A friend of mine from Africa suggested that I take some time and read through Psalms after I called her yesterday to chat. So, I read through the Psalms yesterday--skipping the happy ones. I love the things that stuck out to me and I thought I'd share.
Psalm 11:1a
In the Lord I take refuge. . . .
Psalm 13:1-2
How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hid Your face from me?
How long shall I take counsel in my soul,
Having sorrow in my heart all the day?
How long will my enemy be exalted over me?
Psalm 18:2b
. . .My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge. . . .
Psalm 18:28-29
For You light my lamp;
The Lord my God illumines my darkness.
For by You I can run upon a troop;
And by my God I can leap over a wall.
Psalm 20:4a
May He grant you your heart's desire. . . .
Psalm 20:5b
. . .may the Lord fulfill all your petitions
Psalm 22:2-3
O my God, I cry by day, but You do not answer;
And by night, but I have no rest,
Yet, You are holy.
I wrote notes with this one:
YET!
I cry out but you do not answer. Yet you, O Lord, are holy.
I am drowning but you do not come. Yet you, O Lord, are holy.
I am desperate but you do not hear me. Yet you, O Lord, are holy.
I am confused but you do not give me clarity. Yet you, O Lord, are holy.
Psalm 27:3a
Though a host encamp against me,
My heart will not fear. . . .
My notes: the enemy has encamped against me and I am living in fear and I need to not be afraid because God is fighting the battle for me!
Psalm 32:7
You are my hiding place; You preserve me from trouble;
You surround me with songs of deliverance.
Psalm 40:1a
I waited patiently for the Lord. . . .
Psalm 42:7
Deep calls to deep at the sound of Your waterfalls;
All Your breakers and Your waves have rolled over me.
My notes: I drew a little stick figure drowning in the waves but a hand is tossing her a life preserver from the side. Then in verse 11 it says HOPE. . . that is the life preserver.
Psalm 51:8
Make me to hear joy and gladness,
Let the bones which You have broken rejoice.
Psalm 62:5-8
My soul, wait in silence for God only,
For my hope is from Him
He only is my rock and my salvation,
My stronghold; I shall not be shaken.
On God my salvation and my glory rest;
Trust in Him at all times, O people;
Pour out your heart before Him;
God is a refuge for us.
Psalm 83:1
O God, do not remain quiet;
Do not be silent and , O God, do not be still.
My notes: This is my prayer, O God. I cannot hear you. I cannot feel you. I am lost and drowning and confused. I lack understanding and I cannot see from your perspective. Please do not be silent!
Psalm 86:1
Incline Your ear, O Lord, and answer me;
For I am afflicted and needy.
Psalm 88:4b
. . . I have become like a man without strength.
Psalm 88:18
You have removed lover and friend far from me;
My acquaintances are in darkness.
Psalm 102:2
Do not hide Your face from me in the day of my distress;
Incline your ear to me;
In the day when I call answer me quickly.
Psalm 102:7
I lie awake,
I have become like a lonely bird on a housetop.
Psalm 109:4b
. . . but I am in prayer.
Psalm 109:22
For I am afflicted and needy,
And my heart is wounded within me.
Psalm 109:26
Help me, O Lord my God;
Save me according to Your lovingkindness.
Psalm 116:8
For You have rescued my soul from death,
My eyes from tears,
My feet from stumbling.
Psalm 118:5-9
From my distress I called upon the Lord;
The Lord answered me and set me in a large place.
The Lord is for me; I will not fear;
What can man do to me?
The Lord is for me among those who help me;
Therefore I will look with satisfaction on those who hate me.
It is better to take refuge in the Lord
Than to trust in man.
It is better to take refuge in the Lord
Than to trust in princes.
Psalm 119:28
My soul weeps because of grief;
Strengthen me according to Your word.
Psalm 119: 32b
. . . For You will enlarge my heart.
Psalm 119:40b
. . . revive me. . . .
Psalm 119:49-50
Remember the word to Your servant,
In which You have made me hope.
This is my comfort in my affliction,
That Your word has revived me.
Psalm 119:165
Those who love Your law have a great peace,
And nothing causes them to stumble.
Psalm 121
I will lift up my eyes to the mountains;
From where shall my help come?
My help comes from the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth.
He will not allow your foot to slip;
He who keeps you will not slumber.
Behold, He who keeps Israel
Will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord is your keeper;
The Lord is your shade on your right hand.
The sun will not smite you by day,
Nor the moon by night.
The Lord will protect you from all evil;
He will keep your soul.
The Lord will guard your going out and your coming in
From this time forth and forever.
I hope you find encouragement from the "not happy" Psalms like I did yesterday. Thank you, Lauren, for the wisdom to give me the encouragement I needed to take some me time with my Bible!
Psalm 11:1a
In the Lord I take refuge. . . .
Psalm 13:1-2
How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hid Your face from me?
How long shall I take counsel in my soul,
Having sorrow in my heart all the day?
How long will my enemy be exalted over me?
Psalm 18:2b
. . .My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge. . . .
Psalm 18:28-29
For You light my lamp;
The Lord my God illumines my darkness.
For by You I can run upon a troop;
And by my God I can leap over a wall.
Psalm 20:4a
May He grant you your heart's desire. . . .
Psalm 20:5b
. . .may the Lord fulfill all your petitions
Psalm 22:2-3
O my God, I cry by day, but You do not answer;
And by night, but I have no rest,
Yet, You are holy.
I wrote notes with this one:
YET!
I cry out but you do not answer. Yet you, O Lord, are holy.
I am drowning but you do not come. Yet you, O Lord, are holy.
I am desperate but you do not hear me. Yet you, O Lord, are holy.
I am confused but you do not give me clarity. Yet you, O Lord, are holy.
Psalm 27:3a
Though a host encamp against me,
My heart will not fear. . . .
My notes: the enemy has encamped against me and I am living in fear and I need to not be afraid because God is fighting the battle for me!
Psalm 32:7
You are my hiding place; You preserve me from trouble;
You surround me with songs of deliverance.
Psalm 40:1a
I waited patiently for the Lord. . . .
Psalm 42:7
Deep calls to deep at the sound of Your waterfalls;
All Your breakers and Your waves have rolled over me.
My notes: I drew a little stick figure drowning in the waves but a hand is tossing her a life preserver from the side. Then in verse 11 it says HOPE. . . that is the life preserver.
Psalm 51:8
Make me to hear joy and gladness,
Let the bones which You have broken rejoice.
Psalm 62:5-8
My soul, wait in silence for God only,
For my hope is from Him
He only is my rock and my salvation,
My stronghold; I shall not be shaken.
On God my salvation and my glory rest;
Trust in Him at all times, O people;
Pour out your heart before Him;
God is a refuge for us.
Psalm 83:1
O God, do not remain quiet;
Do not be silent and , O God, do not be still.
My notes: This is my prayer, O God. I cannot hear you. I cannot feel you. I am lost and drowning and confused. I lack understanding and I cannot see from your perspective. Please do not be silent!
Psalm 86:1
Incline Your ear, O Lord, and answer me;
For I am afflicted and needy.
Psalm 88:4b
. . . I have become like a man without strength.
Psalm 88:18
You have removed lover and friend far from me;
My acquaintances are in darkness.
Psalm 102:2
Do not hide Your face from me in the day of my distress;
Incline your ear to me;
In the day when I call answer me quickly.
Psalm 102:7
I lie awake,
I have become like a lonely bird on a housetop.
Psalm 109:4b
. . . but I am in prayer.
Psalm 109:22
For I am afflicted and needy,
And my heart is wounded within me.
Psalm 109:26
Help me, O Lord my God;
Save me according to Your lovingkindness.
Psalm 116:8
For You have rescued my soul from death,
My eyes from tears,
My feet from stumbling.
Psalm 118:5-9
From my distress I called upon the Lord;
The Lord answered me and set me in a large place.
The Lord is for me; I will not fear;
What can man do to me?
The Lord is for me among those who help me;
Therefore I will look with satisfaction on those who hate me.
It is better to take refuge in the Lord
Than to trust in man.
It is better to take refuge in the Lord
Than to trust in princes.
Psalm 119:28
My soul weeps because of grief;
Strengthen me according to Your word.
Psalm 119: 32b
. . . For You will enlarge my heart.
Psalm 119:40b
. . . revive me. . . .
Psalm 119:49-50
Remember the word to Your servant,
In which You have made me hope.
This is my comfort in my affliction,
That Your word has revived me.
Psalm 119:165
Those who love Your law have a great peace,
And nothing causes them to stumble.
Psalm 121
I will lift up my eyes to the mountains;
From where shall my help come?
My help comes from the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth.
He will not allow your foot to slip;
He who keeps you will not slumber.
Behold, He who keeps Israel
Will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord is your keeper;
The Lord is your shade on your right hand.
The sun will not smite you by day,
Nor the moon by night.
The Lord will protect you from all evil;
He will keep your soul.
The Lord will guard your going out and your coming in
From this time forth and forever.
I hope you find encouragement from the "not happy" Psalms like I did yesterday. Thank you, Lauren, for the wisdom to give me the encouragement I needed to take some me time with my Bible!
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