ODJ: never forgotten
October 7, 2011
O Lord, how long will You forget me? Forever? (v.1).
READ: Psalm 13
One day, a taxi dropped world-renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma off at New York City’s Peninsula Hotel. But as the cab drove off, Yo-Yo realized he had left his cello in its backseat. It was worth 2.5 million dollars! The hotel staff jumped to action. As one reporter put it, they “put on their own virtuoso performance, contacting officials all over town in order to track down the missing instrument.” After the cello was returned unharmed, I suspect that Yo-Yo resolved never to forget it again.
The psalmist echoed a lamenting prayer, wondering if God had forgotten him. “How long . . .?” he asked (v.1). In his words, we hear the ache of a long season of disappointment, accompanied by doubts that perhaps—this time—God will not act. His life is in turmoil, and God, it seems to him, is merely looking “the other way” (v.1). He thinks, Perhaps this time God has finally and completely forgotten me.
A plain, poignant question resonates with many of us: “How long must I struggle?” (v.2). How long will our finances be a constant battle? How long will our kids make poor choices? How long will our family be on the brink of ripping apart? How long will I be alone? How long will I struggle with this addiction? How long will I be afraid or sick or despairing? How long?
Are we completely and forever forgotten? It’s a terrifying question, and we’re right to wrestle with it. But then the psalmist’s gaze returned to God, a posture of hope and dependence (v.3). And as he remembered Him (and God’s character and God’s past action), his heart was renewed. “I trust in Your unfailing love,” he said (v.5).
God has not forgotten us. His love will not allow that. —Winn Collier
Where in your life do you fear that God has forgotten you? How does God’s character and love speak to this fear?
Tweet This
Share on Facebook
Digg This
Save to delicious
Stumble it-
RSS Feed
Related
ODJ: unfulfilled dreams
December 16, 2009 I am planning to go to Spain, and when I do, I will stop off in Rome. And after I have enjoyed your fellowship for a little while, you can provide for my journey (v.24). READ: Romans 15:20-24 Paul needed help. He said that his “ambition has always been to preach the [...]
ODJ: passion and pigtails
June 15, 2010 Yet preaching the Good News is not something I can boast about. I am compelled by God to do it. How terrible for me if I didn’t preach the Good News! (v.16). READ: 1 Corinthians 9:11-23 In 1853, 21-year-old Hudson Taylor left Liverpool for China. His ship arrived in Shanghai, one of [...]
ODJ: beautiful expressions
May 7, 2011 “You sent help more than once” (v.16). READ: Philippians 4:10-20 Last spring, in Stephenville, TX, a 28-year-old wife and mother, Brandi Todd, experienced a brutal attack that left her paralyzed from the waist down. She had been sitting on a bench, watching her children play at the local municipal park, when a [...]
ODJ: salty flavor
June 30, 2011 You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless (v.13). READ: Matthew 5:13-16 In his book Transforming Children into Spiritual Champions, George Barna reveals this interesting research statistic: [...]
Christian Courses
Day Of Discovery
Discover The Word
Discovery Series
Help For My Life
My Utmost For His Highest
Our Daily Bread
Our Daily Journey
RBC Ministries
WarungSateKaMu
Manasociety
雅米