Today’s scripture: Psalm 23 (NRSV) (The Message) (KJV) What might God be saying to me?
My thoughts (Tommy Chittenden):
As you read the following words, could you find yourself thinking, “I could have written this myself”? I think we’ve all been there. I’m right there too. Sound familiar?
Lord, I feel so worthless, inadequate, a nothing!
Prove me wrong!
Lord, I feel so unloved, unlovable,
Send me someone who will love me deeply,
So deeply that I can believe otherwise!I feel so alone, so lonely, so empty,
Fill me up; surround me with Your presence.
I feel no one cares, no one needs me, no one wants me,
Please, God, prove to me that I am wrong.
I feel forsaken, blocked off, locked out of joy.
Lord, don’t You have the key?Words seem so empty, no weapon against the lonely pain.
Please make Your promise of love come alive for me!
I cannot see you; You are so distant, so omnipotent, so supreme.
How is it possible for me to believe that You could care
For such an insignificant me?Please God, show Yourself to me so I can really see
And feel and touch and hold You.
Show me You in a human, so I may know a reality
That I can see and touch and hold.
I feel like I want to hurt myself, ridicule myself in their presence
So they — and You — may pick me up,
Soothe and comfort me and make me feel loved.Lord, I feel lost.
Please find me. Search for me and seek me
So that I can really believe that You want me!
Love is the only life-line that will save me;
Yet I seek deeper and farther in my personal dark valley.God, reach out, with human hands and human words and human love
And hold on to me with Divine Love… don’t let me go!
Right now my mind questions whether I ever had it at all.
Lord, my God, please prove me wrong!
Each of us has a weakness from which we run, a love which we hesitate to share, a need to receive, a need for reconciliation.
We are fragile, needing support; weak, needing strength; frightened, needing assurance; lonely, needing companionship; sinful, needing forgiveness and grace; fearful, needing the calming love of God.
The boy shepherd, the King of Israel, the reflecting psalmist David gently encourages us to remember,
“Even though I walk through the dark valleys of my life, I will not fear… for God IS with me; God’s rod and staff protect and comfort me. God prepares a table of victory for me right before those whom I regard as against me. God anoints my head with oil; my cup overflows.”
And we rejoice once again as we benefit from the abundance that freely overflows onto the saucer of our life!
Thought for the day: Spirit of God, if ever I find myself in the basement of my mind, in the deepest and darkest valleys, bring the words of David to heart that I might look up and “into the balcony” to see and hear You ministering through the presence of people and their words of comfort and encouragement.
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading.If you need a place to start, consider the guidelines on the How to Pray page.