PSALMS FOR OUR HARD TIMES

PR EVANGELINE CHEONG

As a church, we will be looking at the Psalms for this coming month. The Psalms are such wonderful works of art. Each of us may have a favourite psalm or two. For me, when there are deep feelings that cannot be expressed, I feel like God peers deep into my soul and inspired the Psalmist long ago to put my feelings into words. Other times, I want to express something to God in prayer, but I can’t find the words, so I like to borrow from the Psalmists too!

This week, here are some Psalms for times when things seem dark and sadness is overwhelming. When you have no words to express how you feel in the darkness, may these Lament Psalms be the words of your heart to cry out to the Lord!

• Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23:4
• Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. Psalm 25:16 
• There is no soundness in my bones because of my sin. My guilt has overwhelmed me like a burden too heavy to bear. Psalm 38:3b-4
• Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. Psalm 42:5
• When I am afraid, I will put my trust in you. Psalm 56:3
• Be gracious to me, O God, for man tramples on me; all day long an attacker oppresses me…You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Psalm 56:1, 8
• Hear my cry, O God; from the ends of the earth I cry to You, when my heart is overwhelmed, lead me to the rock that is higher than I. Psalm 61:1-3The cords of death entangled me, the anguish of the grave came over me; I was overcome by distress and sorrow. Then I called on the name of the Lord: “Lord, save me!” Psalm 116:3-4

If any of these verses resonated with you today, do go and read the rest of the Psalm and journey with God and the Psalmist in the tough times.