A MODERN DAY PSALM (RE-IMAGINED PSALM 77)

I prayed to God out loud for the first the time in a long time

Loud enough for my children to hear

Strong enough that my voice quivered upon hearing its own sound

He gave me His ear

He had been listening for a long time, but waiting for me to hear myself.

Selah.

In my anxiety I sought the Lord

But my troubles consumed me into the night

And never ceased: 

I refused to find my comfort in Him.

Selah.

I remembered God in my distress but forgot Him in my abundance.

I complained but did not give thanks.

I was troubled in my spirit and I was overwhelmed

when I sat in the silence of my home; 

Stilled beyond a stillness I take comfort in.

Selah.

You wake me in the early hours though I have nowhere to go.

You bring to mind words, and hymns, and songs of comfort 

that I forgot. Or neglected. Or avoided.

I commune within my own heart

without the distractions I had come to love.

Selah.

Will the Lord continue this forever?

Will our world be like this for long?

Is His mercy removed from us?

Have His promises failed?

Has God forgotten how to be gracious and show us mercy?

Is this His anger in full display?

Selah.

And I said, This is painful Lord: but I will choose to remember the works

I have seen before.

I will remember your work and say out loud to my children 

Of all the other times I was scared.

We will pronounce from our tables, our porches, our beds:

Who is so great a God as our God?

Not the God of production

Nor money

Nor busyness

Nor wealth

Nor health

Nor anxiety 

Nor fear

But a God that does wonders

That has demonstrated His strength time and again

A God that is a redeemer of His people

That has declared His strength over us.

The birds in my yard know his goodness

His steadfast creation reminds me of His love

The sun rises the same each morning

The footsteps of the planet are set by His hand.

Selah.

While your plan is unknown God

Lead your people.

Allow us to be led by the Spirit of the Lord

And no one 

and nothing else.

Amen