I hope that no matter what season of life that you find yourself in that you will continue to look to God who is always by your side.

We probably will never experience the pain and anguish that the psalmist who wrote Psalm 137.  But it is good to know that God even accepts this kind of hurt and brings comfort to those who experience all kinds of suffering.  He too had to experience the horror of having his “baby” die on the cross.  So whatever you are going through or experiencing, God is there to hear your cry and answer your prayers.  Just call out to him.

I just got done listening to Bryan’s message from Sunday and I liked the idea.  He spoke very well about the two false ideas the God helps those who help themselves and that we are never given more than we can bear.  Many times we think that we need to help God or do things ourselves.  This is absolutely false.  And many times we are given more than we can bear ourselves.  But all of this is for us to trust in God more and allow him to bring us through all those difficult times.  Do not get all caught out with these two myths because they can lead you down some dark roads.

My prayer for you this next week that if you cannot sleep that God will give you a song in the night to sing you back to sleep.

I think one of the greatest lessons we can learn is how to lament as a community or as a body of believers.  When we can look at others around us and join together in weeping and crying out for others, it gets our eye off of ourselves and our problems.  And when we look at our problems less, many times our problems become less.  Prayers of group confession and laments over actions (or inaction) spur us to do better and to renew broken relationships.  And so take some time this week and call up someone from the church and lament together about how God can change what is taking place at your place of worship.

Lamenting for our sins is one of the most common laments in the Psalm.  And with Psalm 22 Jesus lamented for the sins that were placed on him (not his own).  So what are the sins that you need to lament this week over.  Confess those and Jesus will forgive you.

Laments are not just complaints.  They are not just sad songs/prayers.  They are not just spewing our negativity to God.  They are so much more.  God is not hurt or damaged by our complaints nor does he ignore or condemn us when we bring our grievances to him.  Many godly people in the Bible lamented.  We even have a whole book of laments.  But it is important to remember that God can still be trusted when we are lamenting.  He can still be praised when we are going through tough times.  If you always look at your circumstances, you will always find things to lament/complain about.  But if you also look to God, you will see someone who will help you through those circumstances and see you better on the other side.  Trust him with all your laments.

I am on vacation camping this week so please pray for good weather.

I hope everyone had a safe and wonderful fourth of July last week.  Keep praying for our country that we would once again embrace the Godly principles we were founded on.  God bless America.