Spend time in prayer and silence with God asking Him to meet with you and speak to you.
Bible Reading
My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?
Far from my deliverance are the words of my groaning.
O my God, I cry by day, but You do not answer;
And by night, but I have no rest.
Yet You are holy,
O You who are enthroned upon the praises of Israel.
In You our fathers trusted;
They trusted and You delivered them.
To You they cried out and were delivered;
In You they trusted and were not disappointed.
But I am a worm and not a man,
A reproach of men and despised by the people.
All who see me sneer at me;
They separate with the lip, they wag the head, saying,
“Commit yourself to the Lord; let Him deliver him;
Let Him rescue him, because He delights in him.”
Yet You are He who brought me forth from the womb;
You made me trust when upon my mother’s breasts.
Upon You I was cast from birth;
You have been my God from my mother’s womb.
Be not far from me, for trouble is near;
For there is none to help.
Many bulls have surrounded me;
Strong bulls of Bashan have encircled me.
They open wide their mouth at me,
As a ravening and a roaring lion.
I am poured out like water,
And all my bones are out of joint;
My heart is like wax;
It is melted within me.
My strength is dried up like a potsherd,
And my tongue cleaves to my jaws;
And You lay me in the dust of death.
For dogs have surrounded me;
A band of evildoers has encompassed me;
They pierced my hands and my feet.
I can count all my bones.
They look, they stare at me;
They divide my garments among them,
And for my clothing they cast lots.
– Psalm 22:1-18
Devotion
In the first part of this Psalm, David complains about his own personal suffering which is also a prophetic description of the sufferings of Christ. The words David uses such as forsaken, groaning, no rest, crying, reproach, despised, mocked, troubled, alone, weak, over-powered, surrounded by dogs and enemies, paint a bleak picture of what life was like for him. Imagine how he must have felt to make him “I am a worm and not a man!” Yet, through his suffering, David continued to maintain his reverence and trust in God. His dependence on God was never more needed or relied upon than in these desperate times. Like David, the apostle Paul endured much suffering. He also provides a model for the rest of us who may be experiencing similar distressing circumstances: “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” (Romans 8:18)
The Big Question
When you think of the models of Christ, David, and Paul, what is the perspective and attitude God wants you to have regarding any trials you may be experiencing? Are you going to God with your complaints while maintaining your reverence and trust in Him? What are some reasons you might struggle with this? Sometimes it helps to share your thoughts and feelings with a trusted friend who can point you back to God’s truths. Do you have someone who you can be open and honest with during trying times? How can you be that someone for your friends?
Conclude your time in prayer and silence reflecting on what you have learned.