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Devotional
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July 23, 2021

O Lord

July 23, 2021 by KAREN BRADLEY HOPE Grief, loss, & depression
O Lord
“… for the Lord has heard the sound of my weeping. The Lord has heard my plea; the Lord accepts my prayer.”
Psalms 6:8b-9

Troubled bones. Troubled soul. David was desperate.  


Where does he turn? He turns to the One, the only One, who can truly help him and truly heal him. In Psalm 6, David turns to the Lord. 


Whether resulting from sin or sickness or physical enemies, David is desperate, engulfed by grief.


He asks the Lord not to rebuke him, not to discipline him. He asks the Lord to be gracious to him, to heal him. He asks the Lord to turn to him, deliver him, save him. He dares to ask all this because he dares to hope in the steadfast love of the Lord. 


In the center of Psalm 6, David describes the profound depth of his sadness. Night after night he moans and weeps and grieves. But then comes his rock-solid acknowledgement of confident hope in the Lord!


 “… for the Lord has heard the sound of my weeping. 


The Lord has heard my plea; 


the Lord accepts my prayer.” 


Psalm 6:8b-9 


Jesus hears. He hears when hearts break over sin, when loved ones suffer with sickness, when enemies threaten. Out of his gracious love for us, the Lord conquered sin through his death and resurrection. Dare to let the Lord hear your weeping, your pleas for help. Then dare to hold on with confident hope that the Lord accepts your prayer. O Lord...

Closing Prayer
O Lord, I turn to you when my soul is saddened, when my body is bruised. I turn to you because you hear me. You accept me as I cry out to you as my Lord and Savior. Jesus, your body was broken for me so that I might have hope, now and forever. Amen.
Resources
Scriptures: Psalm 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, 143 The early Christian liturgical tradition grouped these Psalms together as the seven penitential Psalms. As the psalmists lament and cry out to God. They also offer hope! The verses of hope shine out all the more against the backdrop of lament.
Question for Reflection

In a season of sadness, have you found hope in the Psalms?

Comments
Karen Bradley
July 23, 2021

Often, during the season of Lent, the time leading up to Easter, I find penitential Psalms helpful and hopeful as I meditate on Jesus’ sacrifice for me. I especially like Psalm 130. Out of sadness comes hope!