Clergy/Leaders’ Mail-list No. 1-153 Sunday 09 Sep 2001

Reading: PSALM 77 – WHERE ARE YOU, GOD?

(From ‘Encounter with God’ Bible Reading Notes)

Do you ever doubt your faith? Where do you turn for help?

There are times in our Christian experience when God seems far away. He does not respond to our prayers; our distress does not appear to move him, and we even begin to wonder if we are losing our faith. This is not a new phenomenon, and this psalm expresses it very poignantly.

You may be familiar with these symptoms too: sleepless nights, emotional pain, and doubt about whether God loves you any more. The low point comes when we find ourselves asking the questions of verses 7-9. Has God rejected his people? Has his love for us ended? Has he forgotten what he promised?

With the benefit of objectivity we know that unfailing love cannot fail, and God does not break his promises, but in the pain and distress of doubt, objectivity is a rare luxury. To feel that God has turned his back on us is a most painful experience for a Christian.

Is there a solution? There is rarely a ‘quick fix’, though that is what most of us would like. Simplistic answers are no help, however well-meaning. The writer’s solution was to remind himself of what God had done for his people over the years. Maybe that would restore his perspective and ease his pain.

Tantalisingly, the psalm ends without any resolution to the problem. We are not told whether he found an answer to his struggle. Perhaps that is to remind us that there is no standard solution: each of us needs to spend time alone with God to hear how he will speak into our particular situation. We may have to wait, however impatiently, for God may want to teach us patience and trust. And we will probably find the support and encouragement of a trusted Christian friend invaluable.

Are there painful areas of doubt in your life? Ask for God’s help to work through them.

– Rosemary Linton

Copyright Scripture Union, 2001