June 11th Weekly Word
When you Feel Lost...
I love the LORD, because he has heard
my voice and my pleas for mercy.
Because he inclined his ear to me,
therefore I will call on him as long as I live.
The snares of death encompassed me;
the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me;
I suffered distress and anguish.
Then I called on the name of the LORD:
“O LORD, I pray, deliver my soul!”
Gracious is the LORD, and righteous;
our God is merciful. (Ps 116:1–5)
Have you ever been lost in the woods? I remember once jogging in the evening on an unfamiliar trail, and as the sun went down, I lost my way back. I had a smartphone with GPS, but, of course, it didn't show the trails as it would the roads. I could, however, see where I was on the map in relation to where I parked by the street. And let me tell you, that was comforting because it reoriented me toward where I needed to be.
Friends, do you ever feel lost in middle of your own story? Do life's pressures, distractions, disappointments, or demands ever have you feeling like you've wandered away from what it all means? It's not uncommon to feel that way. I know I have before. But the question is, when you recognize it, what do you do?
David reminds us in Psalm 116. When he realized that he was in trouble, he called out to God. I know it's likely the most basic of all lessons from the Bible, but sometimes we need those simple reminders, don't we?
It's easy to experience the overwhelm of our lives and begin by developing a plan or descending into despair. But notice, David does neither. Rather, he calls out to the Lord. When that becomes our default, it reorients us toward the One who hears us in our trials, challenges or wanderings.
Friends, wherever you are right now? Whatever you're going through, call out to God. He hears you, loves you, and will walk with you through it. As David says in verse 5, God is gracious and merciful.
One of my favorite prayers from the Book of Common Prayer is the collect for guidance (below). Notice the crux of the prayer is that God would guide us so that we'll remember him the midst of our daily lives. This is what we need to stay on God's path, but it's also what we need when we feel a bit lost. This prayer is about reorientation through a continuous connection with our Father who is continuously drawing us to himself. Will you take a moment to pray this collect with me today?
Heavenly Father, in you we live and move and have our being: We humbly pray you so to guide and govern us by your Holy Spirit, that in all the cares and occupations of our
life we may not forget you, but may remember that we are ever walking in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 100)
Darin+