Questions
In Psalm 77, Asaph, the writer was apparently in a very desperate situation. He cried out to God (v. 1). Looking towards heaven, he stretched empty arms (v. 2). There were troubling thoughts in his head floating around about God because of his horrible circumstances (v. 3). He endured unheard of trouble (v. 4). There was an overwhelming feeling of being cast aside (v. 7). There was a fear of failed promises (v. 8). Will there be enough mercy for me (v. 8)?
I can definitely relate to most if not all of these laments. Experiencing life on this planet, you see and hear similar laments from friends, coworkers and even strangers. It does not take long on this spinning orb before you begin to realize that life is hard. Whether you have lost a loved one, been given a pink slip, recently divorced, evicted, imprisoned, foreclosed on or a natural disaster took your home, all these are all devastating life events. Any one event would cause us to cry out to God or be afraid that there were no more promises from heaven.
Praises
In verse 10 of Psalm 77, Asaph made a complete 180 turnaround. He began recollecting God’s magnificent works, God’s love, what God has done, His miraculous deeds of old, the comfort of God’s faithfulness and His mercy, as well as His wonders and greatness and His strength and redemption.
Questions or Praises
I am learning the hard way (that seems to be the only way I know how to learn lessons in life these days), that time on Earth is not going to be a cakewalk. I have to take the bad with the good and not turn over and wallow in self-pity or feel like I am going to die from the pain. When the road of life gets a little bumpy, I am learning to do what Asaph did. I am learning to focus on God and not on my circumstances. I am learning to focus on the saving power of the cross of Jesus. This is a new lesson for me, so I am still a novice at this. However, so far I am able to think clearer and not get so depressed and self-absorbed.
Life is going to be difficult. We can spin our wheels focusing on the storms of life or we can focus on the One who can help us weather those storms. I would much rather focus on God and His helping hand through my situation than to focus on the problem. When I focus on God, my situation seems to diminish.