AN EXPLOSION OF QUESTIONS
Opening Prayer
Lord Jesus, “You opened my eyes to Your wonders anew, You captured my heart with this love” (Tim Hughes, “Beautiful One”).
Read Psalm 13
For the director of music. A psalm of David.
1 How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
2 How long must I wrestle with my thoughts
and day after day have sorrow in my heart?
How long will my enemy triumph over me?
3 Look on me and answer, Lord my God.
Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death,
4 and my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,”
and my foes will rejoice when I fall.
5 But I trust in your unfailing love;
my heart rejoices in your salvation.
6 I will sing the Lord’s praise,
for he has been good to me.
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
Have you ever thought that God made us to be curious?The psalms are bursting with questions. In today’s psalm, verses 1 and 2 explode into four rapid-fire questions directed at God! Little children continually ask all kinds of questions. Yet, somewhere along the road to adulthood, we learn to censor our questions, perhaps in order to avoid appearing ignorant, ridiculous or unsophisticated. Nevertheless, within the context of secure relationships—a loving parent, encouraging teacher, loyal friend, supportive boss—don’t we sometimes venture to voice those burning questions?
Despite pleading for answers (3), none are forthcoming. So how does a psalm, which begins on a note of gloom and doom, end on a joyful key (5,6)? The psalmist draws comfort from the certainty of God’s unfailing love (5); his praise of God’s goodness (6) affirms his belief that God has his best interests at heart.
In the church, people sometimes hold back questions for fear of being labeled a heretic or a “doubting Thomas,” or for being seen as undermining the leadership. But the readiness to raise the honest questions of our hearts in prayer signifies that we trust God enough to be “real” with him.
Apply
What’s the one burning question you’d like to ask God? Ask him your question; then write it down and place it inside your Bible.
Closing prayer
Lord, grant me boldness to lay the questions of my heart before You and a faith that never stops trusting in Your love.
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