Within one week, we held a successful multi-denominational prayer meeting, an old friend was put into a coma in a car accident, a current friend was offered a wanted job, two other friends underwent surgeries, and the young adult son of another friend died. I went from great elation to deep sadness, with several stops in between, in just a few days.
What holds us steady when our emotions get whipped around like that? God, of course, but how, exactly does he make himself known? How do we access his grace, his power, his holiness? David filled his prayerful poetry with the heights and depths of his emotions. His psalms have spoken for generations of believers, as we wrestle with the God we also praise:
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning?
O my God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, and am not silent. Psalm 22:1-2, NIV
On the other hand:
I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonders.
I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High. Psalm 9:1-2, NIV
Through my tears and joys this week, “Holy God” has been my breath prayer. Unlike the poet David, I am fresh out of words. But his holiness is our steadiness in this joyful, terror-filled life.
Come Holy Spirit, be our life.
Joy and terror in this life, absolutely! Thanks, Karen, for this beautiful reminder of God’s steady strength and availability. Bless you!
Mary Pierce