Getting Started
The ac went out in your crappy apartment. Your car won’t start. Your bank account is almost zero. A friend canceled plans with you again. You’re about to explode at that frustrating coworker at your internship. And your mom/dad/sister/brother/that family member just won’t let up about your life choices.
There are weeks when life just feels too much.
When we’re overwhelmed and overstimulated, it can be really hard to engage with God. How do we connect with God when life is too much?
Fortunately, God is not surprised when life is too much. He knows that there are days when we just don’t have the energy to talk to him like we normally would. In fact, God created a whole book of the Bible to show us how we can connect with him when we just can’t even.
The book of Psalms is a collection of poems and songs expressing the variety of human emotion. Some are straight-up praise & thanksgiving. Others are poems of grief and despair. The Psalms give us words for when we have none.
For this devotional, I’m inviting you to stop striving just for a moment. Lay aside the worries of your day and take the next 5 to 10 minutes to simply pray through this psalm with me.
You’ll see a prompt every couple of verses or so. As you read the words of this Psalm, use the prompts to help you reflect and talk with God.
Psalm 27
The Lord is my light and my salvation—
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life—
of whom shall I be afraid?
When the wicked advance against me to devour me,
it is my enemies and my foes
who will stumble and fall.
Though an army besiege me,
my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me,
even then I will be confident.
What ‘enemies’ seem to be advancing against you - a battle with your mental health? A financial difficulty? A strained relationship? Imagine the Lord ‘the stronghold of your life’ standing between you and that enemy. Ask God to bring his light and salvation to you in the midst of your fears.
One thing I ask from the Lord,
this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
to gaze on the beauty of the Lord
and to seek him in his temple.
For in the day of trouble
he will keep me safe in his dwelling;
he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent
and set me high upon a rock.
Then my head will be exalted
above the enemies who surround me;
at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make music to the Lord.
The ‘house of the Lord’ is a place of safety and rest. Where in your life do you long for God to give you his shelter & protection? Take a few deep breaths and imagine you are surrounded by God’s protective presence.
Hear my voice when I call, Lord;
be merciful to me and answer me.
My heart says of you, “Seek his face!”
Your face, Lord, I will seek.
Do not hide your face from me,
do not turn your servant away in anger;
you have been my helper.
Do not reject me or forsake me,
God my Savior.
Though my father and mother forsake me,
the Lord will receive me.
Even when we feel the most alone, we are never truly alone. No matter what- whether it’s something we’ve done or something someone has done to us- God never rejects or forsakes us. Picture God looking at you, face to face, what does His face look like to you? Does He say anything to you?
Teach me your way, Lord;
lead me in a straight path
because of my oppressors.
Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes,
for false witnesses rise up against me,
spouting malicious accusations.
I remain confident of this:
I will see the goodness of the Lord
in the land of the living.
Reflect on your day. How have you seen the goodness of God today? Ask God to show you his goodness and spend a few moments thanking him.
Wait for the Lord;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the Lord.
Repeat this phrase a few times- either in your head or out loud. What does it mean to you to wait for the Lord?
As you finish praying through this psalm, take a few more deep breaths. What is one thing from this Psalm- a word or phrase- that you want to carry with you for the rest of your day? Write it on a piece of paper or simply repeat it in your head throughout your day.
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When words are few & life is too much, consider turning to the Psalms. God doesn’t expect us to come up with the most eloquent ways to tell Him what’s going on in our lives. He simply just wants to be with us.
