Feelings or Faith

Life can seem like God has left. But He never really has. The Psalmist cries out the words many of us have said at some point:

Psalm 22:1 (ESV) My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning?

When we feel distant from God, we need to remember the deception of our feelings. Truth is greater. The interesting thing about Psalm 22 is that the despair lasts for 2 verses! The third verse has him turning to the greatness of His God.

Psalm 22:3 (ESV) Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.

He recounts how those who trusted Him were delivered. And so it shall be with you and I. Following the Lord is not a cakewalk, but it is not a plank walk either! We do not lose hope, "though outwardly we waste away yet inwardly we are renewed day by day."

Some commentators suppose Psalm 22 to be two Psalms combined into one because of the cry of dereliction in the beginning and the hope and confidence in the end. But I say it isn't. I say it's the experience of those who live by faith. To live by faith is to live with the God who can deliver you while you wait for Him to deliver you. That's what faith is all about. No one needs faith when things are smooth. 

Two things about God we understand from this Psalm.
1. God will not abandon us even when our faith is at its most fragile and we say things toward Him that are not true.
2. God will finally and forever help us. 

This is the hope of Psalm 22. 

Psalm 22:22 (ESV) I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will praise you... 24 For he has not despised or abhorred the affliction of the afflicted, and he has not hidden his face from him, but has heard, when he cried to him.

Feelings are deceptive.
Faith is expectant.



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