Narrative Lectionary Key Verse for Today
“More in number than the hairs of my head are those who hate me without cause; many are those who would destroy me, my enemies who accuse me falsely. What I did not steal must I now restore?”
NL Daily Devotion for Sunday, June 23, 2019
by Dr. Kimberly Leetch, Clergy Stuff
Main Idea: Being patient for God’s answer to our pleas can be hard, but God will answer in God’s own time.
Everyone has known the experience of deep despair at some time in their lives—likely more than once. It can feel like being sucked under mucky swamps and drowning in flood waters. Desperation and hopelessness can seem unending and insurmountable.
Amid the psalmist’s struggles, they cry out to God for help. They first lay out their struggle—enemies greater in number than the hairs on their head are out to get them. Then they remind God that they have been faithful, expressing their despair appropriately with fasting and clothing in sackcloth. Even despite the taunts and mocking of those around them, they remain faithful. Will it be enough to get God’s attention? Will it be enough to move God into action?
The psalmist knows God will answer in God’s own time and because of God’s “abundant” and “steadfast love.” All they can do is ask and trust.
In our culture of immediate gratification, waiting for God’s answer can seem daunting. We can binge-watch our favorite shows sometimes even before the season airs. We can deposit checks on our phone (although, who even writes checks anymore?!). We can watch wars unfolding in real time. And email is too slow. As we become more and more accustomed to getting what we want and need right now, learning to be patient with God and God’s responses to our pleas can be difficult. But we can learn from the psalmist, who is truly suffering, that we can learn to hold on to faith, even when it seems we are drowning.
May I be encouraged to continue to ask because God is listening, always. Amen.
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