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I think of God, and I moan, overwhelmed with longing for his help. Interlude You don't let me sleep. I am too distressed even to pray! Psalm 77:3-4 NLT
Have you ever been so upset, depressed, angry, or overwhelmed that you couldn’t even pray? If so, you’re in good company.
Even bible writers struggled like that, as Psalm 77 proves. Asaph, a Levite assigned by King David to lead music when the ark of the covenant was moved to Jerusalem (1 Chronicles 15), came to prominence in a time of joy. How different his outlook when he penned today’s psalm.
“I cry out to God; yes, I shout,” Asaph began. “Oh, that God would listen to me! When I was in deep trouble, I searched for the Lord. All night long I prayed, with hands lifted toward heaven, but my soul was not comforted” (Psalm 77:1-2). And then Asaph wrote the words of today’s scripture, recording his moaning, longing, and sleeplessness. He found it impossible even to pray.
Happily for Asaph—and instructively for us—he discovered a way out of his morass. By verse 11, this talented musician had decided to “recall all you have done, O Lord; I remember your wonderful deeds of long ago.” And that provide to be enough. Today, let’s follow Asaph’s example, praying as he did:
Prayer: “You are the God of great wonders! You demonstrate your awesome power among the nations” (Psalm 77:14).
Have you ever been so upset, depressed, angry, or overwhelmed that you couldn’t even pray? If so, you’re in good company.
Even bible writers struggled like that, as Psalm 77 proves. Asaph, a Levite assigned by King David to lead music when the ark of the covenant was moved to Jerusalem (1 Chronicles 15), came to prominence in a time of joy. How different his outlook when he penned today’s psalm.
“I cry out to God; yes, I shout,” Asaph began. “Oh, that God would listen to me! When I was in deep trouble, I searched for the Lord. All night long I prayed, with hands lifted toward heaven, but my soul was not comforted” (Psalm 77:1-2). And then Asaph wrote the words of today’s scripture, recording his moaning, longing, and sleeplessness. He found it impossible even to pray.
Happily for Asaph—and instructively for us—he discovered a way out of his morass. By verse 11, this talented musician had decided to “recall all you have done, O Lord; I remember your wonderful deeds of long ago.” And that provide to be enough. Today, let’s follow Asaph’s example, praying as he did:
Prayer: “You are the God of great wonders! You demonstrate your awesome power among the nations” (Psalm 77:14).
