From: Charmie Curry
Upon receiving the Scriptures to reflect on, I couldn’t help but smile when I saw Psalm 22. I’ve always believed God to have a strong sense of humor. In fact, it is one of the ways that I find Him so relatable. Psalm 22 may as well be my 2016 battlecry. The creases and underlinings along the page of this Psalm in my Bible, and the rainbow of highlights on my Bible app point to the familiarity I have with the Psalmist’s cries. I turned to Psalm 22 in anger when I was unjustly and suddenly terminated from my job earlier in the spring. I felt like I was crying out to God, but he was not hearing me. I could especially relate to v. 16, 17 …” Dogs surround me, a pack of villains encircles me; they pierce my hands and my feet; All my bones are on display; people stare and gloat over me. I have turned to Psalm 22 when my husband and I have been at odds, struggling to relate to each other, as so many newly married people do. Psalm 22 has been both a testing and refining of my faith and hope in the Lord.
I have been encouraged by this Psalm because I know that even after the cries, there is hope.There is hope because of Jesus. The same Jesus, who in Matthew 27, just as he was dying for us, cried out just like the Psalmist, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (v. 46). There is hope because just like God was near to Jesus as he gave up his spirit, God is near to me (and you) when I (you) cry out to him, no matter the circumstance. This Advent, as we pause, reflect, and wait upon our Lord’s coming, may we trust in him and his all-loving rescue of his people, even in our darkest hours.
I am wife to Gordon and momma to our little pup Dudley. When I am not coaching teachers and school leaders, I love pinning, decorating, and watching my favorite Girls, Rory and Lorelai. Maybe we can talk about them sometime?