In the day of my trouble I seek the LORD…my soul refuses to be comforted. When I remember God, I moan; when I meditate, my spirit faints…(v. 2-3)
Discontentment, anguish, and being drained of life are not outcomes promoted when sold on and trained in the activities of faith. Whether in individual practice or collective worship, as part of a discipleship program, or daily devotional, the faith actions of the psalmist in Psalm 77 are the solution (whatever our aliment or aspiration), aren’t they?
So what are we to make of Psalm 77, then? More aptly, what do you do when all the processes, programs, and practices of faith fail you as they do the psalmist? What do you do when you do all the right things—“cry aloud to God…seek the LORD…remember God…meditate…consider the days of old”—and yet the only thing that seems to change is your perspective on our Father’s disposition towards your situation?
my spirit made a diligent search: ‘Will the Lord…never again be favorable? Has his steadfast love forever ceased?...Has God…shut up his compassion?’ Then I said, ‘This is my grief: that the right hand of the Most High has changed.’ (v. 6-9)
You’ve been there, haven’t you? I know I’ve been there, where the activities and disciplines of faith don’t solve the circumstances surrounding me, much less satisfy my weary soul. When, in fact, the activities of faith produce more frustration than flourishing. So what are we to do?
What the psalmist does and doesn’t do is telling.
What Asaph does, is the same thing he’d been doing:
I will remember the deeds of the LORD…I will remember your wonders of old. I will ponder all your work and meditate on your mighty deeds. (v. 11-12)
While a reflexive tendency of our day is to return what is not working, exchanging one product and process for the next, the psalmist sticks with what he’s been taught, keeping to the ways he’s been formed in faith. It’s a mature(ing) faith that doesn’t go searching for the new and the next, especially when in a state of disillusionment. It’s a mature(ing) faith, not “little faith,” that can openly and honestly confess the pangs of discovering the means are not the end, and yet not just replace them with other means. It’s mature(ing) faith that recognizes what it cannot see amid the raging waters of the moment, “yet your footprints were unseen” (v. 19). It’s mature(ing) faith that is willing to follow the faith of others who are following in faith, “You lead your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron” (v. 20) amid the growing pains of faith.
So, when the means of faith fail to solve the problem, what will you do? Will such moments be a maturing of your faith? I pray that it will be for you and for me. And I am grateful to have others who are following in faith to walk with through the growing pains.
- Jeremy P.