Despairing

When you are despairing, pray this psalm to God, expressing honestly your deepest feelings.

Psalm 77

I yell out to God, I yell with all my might,
    I yell at the top of my lungs. [God] listens.

I found myself in trouble and went looking for my Lord;
    my life was an open wound that wouldn't heal.
When friends said, "Everything will turn out all right,"
    I didn't believe a word they said.
I remember God -- and shake my head.
    I bow my head -- then wring my hands.
I'm awake all night -- not a wink of sleep;
    I can't even say what's bothering me.
I go over the days one by one,
    I ponder the years gone by.
I strum my lute all through the night,
    wondering how to get my life together.

Will the Lord walk off and leave us for good?
    Will [God] never smile again?
Is [God's] love worn threadbare?
    Has [the Lord's] salvation promise burned out?
Has God forgotten his manners?
    Has [the Lord] angrily stalked off and left us?
"Just my luck," I said. "The High God goes out of business
    just the moment I need him."

Once again I'll go over what God has done,
    lay out on the table the ancient wonders,
I'll ponder all the things you've accomplished,
    and give a long, loving look at your acts.

Oh God! Your way is holy!
    No god is great like God!
You're the God who makes things happen;
    you showed everyone what you can do--
You pulled your people out of the worst kind of trouble,
    rescued the children of Jacob and Joseph.

Psalm 77, THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language. Copyright © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used with permission.

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