Psalm 22:2-3–O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest. 3 Yet you are holy, enthroned onthe praises of Israel.
What you hear is a man who is honest and open about his heart and desire for God to listen and answer his cry. Frustrated and desperate for the situation to be remedied by God as fast as possible…
But in the prayer of such desperation, is also an understanding of the Lord and His character, which puts a clear barrier to his prayer, in that it is not an indictment on the character of God, but a plea upholding God’s character in reverence, not thinking God should be on his time. That would be irreverent.
The question that looms within the heart of us who struggle to wait on God, especially without God’s focus of conforming us to Christ, is whether we value getting what we want without having to exercise faith, is better than growing to trust God “is enough” without getting our prayer(s) answered? (2 Corinthians 12:8-9)
Faith makes us think in terms of Christ and His will for us to bear fruit for greater trust, intimacy, and love. But if Christ is not at the forefront of our daily lives, then having to endure hardship in any sense becomes one big aggravation. Because our flesh wants comfort, and comfort doesn’t need God, it needs situations/people to not aggravate us or just give us what we want!
So the heart of the Psalmist shows us that he is not aggravated with the Lord not answering his prayers. Instead in his plea, he honors the goodness of the Lord and His character, being set apart and holy. Meaning that the Lord has the right to demand whatever He wants, and delay as long as He wants, because His ways are not our ways, He is holy (entirely set apart).
Maturity is about growing to honor this dynamic in our relationship with Jesus, while still loving and praising Him, though He doesn’t give us what we want, when we want it. Teaching us that we may not need it, because His grace is sufficient.-In His Love, Ld
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