THE FIRST DAY OF MAY IN THE YEAR OF GRACE TWO THOUSAND AND SIXTEEN.
What can you do when you find yourself in a circumstance like this? Your cause is just, your motives pure, and you give it all you’ve got. When the smoke has cleared you look and find that nothing’s changed at all. The problems that you face are real and do not go away. At such a time the Book of Psalms might be just what you need: testimony, ancient prayers, faith both strong and weak wait to encourage and refresh the person who will seek.
When circumstances don’t reveal God’s presence, we repeat: “How long, O God? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? . . . But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation” (Psalm 13:1, 5).
When justice does not occur on the earth, we may say: “I was envious of the arrogant, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked . . . When I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task until I went into the sanctuary of God . . . When my soul was embittered . . . I was stupid and ignorant . . . Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory” (Psalm 73:2, 16- 17, 21-24, 28).
When our intellect can go no farther, we can confess: “O God, my heart is not lifted up, my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me. But I have calmed and quieted my soul like a child quieted at its mother’s breast; like a child that is quieted is my soul.” (Psalm 131:1-3).