When My Soul Is Distressed-Psalms 77
Life has a way of knocking you down. It can be cruel and gnawing at times. There are times when I have no energy to get out of bed many days. Wait, you too? Thanks for not leaving me hanging. I can remember being in a season where I wondered what was the purpose of continuing to live this life. I mean why would I want to continue getting up every day to face myself let alone to face the negativity that others around me tend to bring. The world, in particular, over the last few years has shifted in a direction that let’s face it, I never thought I would see in my lifetime. With the pandemic and then all the social injustices that added to an already illuminated struggle; just why?!
My soul became distressed. My entire being became distressed. As a nurse, I was distressed about going to work in the height of a horrible pandemic. I was distressed about bringing COVID-19 home to my husband and children. I was distressed that I could not see my family often because of the pandemic and because I am a nurse. Talk about elevated anxiety and depression. There were days when I wanted to quit. Then to add to that distress, social injustice. Wait, I have a teenaged black son. I instantly became worried. He could not walk to the store by himself at night anymore. Shoot, not even in the daytime. I was afraid to let him walk around with a hoodie on. God, seriously sir I can’t take anymore.
How about you? Do you find yourself in moments of complete distress? Distress about losing loved ones. Distress about COVID-19. Distress about not being able to find a good paying job. Distress about bills. Distress about your health or someone you love. Distress from every angle.
Oftentimes we become so distraught with everything that is going on with us and around us that we struggle to utter prayers to God. We find ourselves not sleeping at night from worry. We are crying and screaming at God to hear our cries, yet it does not seem as though He remembers our names. I am so glad that this scripture Psalms 77 affirms us but then also assures us. Asaph begins this scripture in total distress. “All night long I prayed, with hands lifted toward heaven, but my soul was not comforted”. Asaph says, “you don’t let me sleep. I am too distressed even to pray”. He was upset and frustrated wondering has God forgotten all about him. God where are you?
Then there is this special moment in the scripture. The interlude. An interlude is simply a pause. You’ll see stage plays will often take an interlude between scenes to prepare themselves for the next act. They take a moment and refresh themselves, change their wardrobe and refocus their minds for what’s ahead. Asaph took several quick pauses to gather himself after the rants that he went on to God. He then comes back after his second pause (he finally got himself together). He says, “But then I recall all you have done, O Lord; I remember your wonderful deeds of long ago”. He suddenly remembered how God had been so good despite everything that he was going through currently. He remembered and he began to worship him for who He is and what He has done. Asaph begins recalling such miracles that God performed throughout his life. He reminds himself that God is good and that He has not forgotten about him.
Even in our distress, God is still there. He has not forgotten about you. He has not abandoned you. Recall those things that He has already done in your life. Just go back to this morning when he allowed you to enter into this day. God is the God who cares for our distressed souls. He is here still working miracle after miracle. Today, trust him with your soul. Yes, even your distressed soul. He can handle it!