O Lord, God of my salvation, when, at night, I cry out in your presence, let my prayer come before you; incline your ear to my cry. For my soul is full of troubles, and my life draws near to Sheol. I am counted among those who go down to the Pit; I am like those who have no help, like those forsaken among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, like those whom you remember no more, for they are cut off from your hand. You have put me in the depths of the Pit, in the regions dark and deep. Your wrath lies heavy upon me, and you overwhelm me with all your waves. (Selah) You have caused my companions to shun me; you have made me a thing of horror to them. I am shut in so that I cannot escape; my eye grows dim through sorrow. Every day I call on you, O Lord; I spread out my hands to you.
Do you work wonders for the dead? Do the shades rise up to praise you? Is your steadfast love declared in the grave, or your faithfulness in Abaddon? Are your wonders known in the darkness, or your saving help in the land of forgetfulness? But I, O Lord, cry out to you; in the morning my prayer comes before you. O Lord, why do you cast me off? Why do you hide your face from me? Wretched and close to death from my youth up, I suffer your terrors; I am desperate. Your wrath has swept over me; your dread assaults destroy me. They surround me like a flood all day long; from all sides they close in on me. You have caused friend and neighbor to shun me; my companions are in darkness. (Psalm 88 – A Psalm of lament)

…What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:8)

Your will be done… (Matthew 6:10)

What does it mean for us to do God’s will, to walk humbly with God? It means that we stay in relationship with God, no matter what.

Much of our language of worship and prayer is praise. We emphasize the importance of praising and thanking God for our blessings and the abundance of our life. Both praise and thanksgiving are important parts of our relationship and communication with God.

But what do we do when things aren’t going so great? What happens if we get angry with God or if we feel like God isn’t even there for us anymore? It is during these times that the Psalms of lament teach us how to pray, and how to continue our humble walk with God.

God’s will for us is to be in relationship with God, and that means we can bring everything to God; our joy and our thanks, and our sadness and our anger. God wants to hear it all. God can take it. And even in our anger, God will strengthen us, and guide us and walk with us as we walk humbly with God.

For more on praying the Psalms of lament, read the sermon written by The Rev. Michael Rogness, http://saplc.org/ministry/sermons/sr070228.php

Prayer for today

Merciful God, please help me to remember that you are with me in good times, and in bad. Give me confidence to pray in joy and in anger, knowing that you hear me and love me always. Amen.