Earlier this week, I was listening to my favorite podcast as they interviewed one of my favorite bands. That of course is the Relevant Podcast and Jars of Clay.
During this interview Dan Haseltine of Jars of Clay made this statement.
There’s that one day a month where everything seems to be working, where life is how it should be and God is presenting himself in a way that lines up with our ideas. Then, there’s those 29 other days when things aren’t working out, when we are always in tension and we don’t quite get what God is doing and we don’t really see what our place is, and what humanity is really about and what our story is contributing to.
Wow, I think that sums it up for so many of us. We have those all so infrequent days when everything lines up. And those are so awesome! And then there’s the rest of them, where we muddle through, longing for those other days. Confused, stressed and tired! I think it is comforting and reassuring to hear other believers talk like this. It doesn’t diminish our trust and hope in our Lord, but it does affirm what we are all experiencing – that life is hard!
And that may be why we love Psalms like this one
1May the Lord answer you when you are in distress;
may the name of the God of Jacob protect you.
2May he send you help from the sanctuary
and grant you support from Zion.
3May he remember all your sacrifices
and accept your burnt offerings.
4May he give you the desire of your heart
and make all your plans succeed.
5May we shout for joy over your victory
and lift up our banners in the name of our God.
May the Lord grant all your requests.
6Now this I know:
The Lord gives victory to his anointed.
He answers him from his heavenly sanctuary
with the victorious power of his right hand.
7Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.
8They are brought to their knees and fall,
but we rise up and stand firm.
9Lord, give victory to the king!
Answer us when we call! Psalm 20 NIV