COVID-19 and Lament, Part 1

Today’s devotional thought explores the importance of giving voice to our suffering through prayers of lament. Trip Leader Matt Swanson shares some wise words as well as the following resources:

Hi, this is Matt from Royal Servants mission trips. The response to Covid-19 has left many of us feeling disoriented as we have to rearrange our routines to social distance. While being home from school might be fun, many of us are likewise feeling a deep sense of sadness at the losses. We may have already lost our spring break plans, whether a mission trip or family vacation. We face the possible loss of further social interaction, spring sports, prom, and graduation ceremonies. As a running coach I know I have athletes who were hoping to translate their spring track performances into college scholarships, which now seems all but lost. Many of us likewise face the reality that we may have loved one’s in hospitals and nursing homes that we may not be able to visit or may never have the chance to say goodbye to. Many of us are feeling a sense of loss or we will if this really lasts weeks into months.

David writes in Psalm 13:
13 How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
2 How long must I take counsel in my soul
and have sorrow in my heart all the day?
How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?

3 Consider and answer me, O Lord my God;
light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death,
4 lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,”
lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken.

5 But I have trusted in your steadfast love;
my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
6 I will sing to the Lord,
because he has dealt bountifully with me.

I first learned to pray this Psalm in high school through a band called Shane & Shane, but the words of David here have supported many through many trying times. Notice what David does with His sadness. He doesn’t wish it away or pretend it’s ok. He sits in it, asking how long. And he doesn’t get an answer to how long, yet he steps out in faith – both to bring his complaint to God and to say “I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, because he has dealt bountifully with me.” When we read the stories about David’s life, we don’t find a happily ever after story – he doesn’t slay Goliath, become king and live happily ever after – instead we see David struggle through hard circumstances and over and over again declare in the midst of trials “I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, because he has dealt bountifully with me.”

Will you take some time today to pray, maybe write your prayer in a journal or a notebook, to express in faith to God your frustrations, sadness, and fears. And then declare in faith in your prayer, no matter how big or how small, that you will trust in God’s unfailing love. Below you will find some suggestions for songs to worship God through and scripture to read for your devotions and don’t forget to subscribe to our youtube channel to get regular devotionals and seek our creator and King together in this trying season.

Further Study:

Devotional Reading: 1 Samuel 17-21

Reflection Questions:

– What frustration, sadness, and fear do you need to express to God today?
– How can you express to God that you will trust Him in this circumstance?
– What does David’s life teach you about living faithfully in any circumstance?

‍

Originally Published March 27, 2020