Quite a few Psalms contain strong passionate words that don’t seem to relate to our day to day life experience.
For example, the writer of Psalm 130 said;
With all my heart I wait for the Lord to help me. I put my hope in his word. I wait for the Lord to help me. I want his help more than night watchmen want the morning to come. I’ll say it again. I want his help more than night watchmen want the morning to come.
(Psalm 130:5-6 NIRV)
Beautiful poetic passionate words. But are they real or sentimental. Does he really feel that way?
For the longest while, maybe twenty years or so, I was a sincere earnest prayer person, but I never personally experienced anywhere near that kind of passion in my prayers.
Consequently I was never able to fully relate to such words. That is, until trouble showed up in my life and I became somewhat desperate for answers from God; desperate for Him to step into my space and help me.
The writer of Psalm 130’s life had apparently hit rock bottom. He was desperate. In addition to that he seemed to be burdened, weighted down with guilt as he cried out for God to show him mercy.
I can feel his passion and pain as I read the words;
Lord, I cry out to you because I’m suffering so deeply. Lord, listen to me. Pay attention to my cry for your mercy.
(Psalm 130:1-2 NIRV)
I can now totally understand this. I understand his pain. The hardships I encountered deepened my personal sense of being and matured me as no happy times could have done.
Are you praying desperate prayers about stuff in your life?
I am. And while I am confident that God will answer my prayer, I often struggle with memories of my mistakes and poor decision making that brought me to this desperate state. I often struggle about ‘feeling worthy’ again.
But something the writer said gives me strength and courage. He said that God forgives. He said if God chose to hold us accountable for our wrongdoing, none of us would be found innocent. He wanted mercy from God. He said that God forgives us so that we can serve Him with respect. (Psalm 130:3-4)
It was Apostle John that said;
Suppose we claim we are without sin. Then we are fooling ourselves. The truth is not in us. But God is faithful and fair. If we confess our sins, he will forgive our sins. He will forgive every wrong thing we have done. He will make us pure.
(1 John 1:8-9 NIRV)
Be blessed, embrace forgiveness; His mercies are new every morning.