Stretched thin is a mild term compared to our household right now. Though we’ve had some time off (we don’t take breaks or vacations often, the financial strain is a bit much), my wife and I have been in an autopilot mode. Her father passed away three weeks ago, and she only took two days off (the day where he took a turn for the worse, and the day he passed), Christmas was coming up, and we had a church to serve. And we had our anniversary coming up two days after Christmas, our young boys to consider, and a church family to love. And so we took it as a reason to serve and love one another and them all. We celebrated our anniversary in spite of our circumstances: Michaelene said that we often take for granted that we see one another every day, we don’t often take time for a date night, and we watch and care for the children the majority of the time when we’re not at the church. Yesterday, she completed a three week task of honoring her dad by writing about him on the church website. After reading her tribute to her dad, it got me thinking: rejoicing doesn’t always look happy, often involves tears, but always looks forward to the One who is our hope. When we consider rejoicing, we might think of David dancing before the Ark of the Covenant. But what if rejoicing also looked like “my God, my God why have you forsaken me?” Bear with me on this one. Often we only think of Jesus on the cross when these words come to mind, but consider what Jesus was quoting. Psalm 22 is an agonizing Psalm. It accurately portrays what David’s descendant and Lord, Jesus Christ would go through, yet in the end, David praises God, and proclaims in triumph:
All the prosperous of the earth eat and worship; before him shall bow all who go down to the dust, even the one who could not keep himself alive. Posterity shall serve him; it shall be told of the Lord to the coming generation; they shall come and proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn, that he has done it. (Psalm 22:29-31)
What people often take as Jesus crying out in doubt and agony (He wasn’t doubting God), Jesus was rejoicing in knowing God’s work would be completed. Even in His agony, Jesus was remembering the promises of God, Declaring what God would do, and knowing that the Father would keep His promises. This is rejoicing in the midst of suffering! Calling upon the promises of God, clinging to the Scriptures, and trusting in God to keep His word! Grace is messy because our sin makes us messy. But God’s promises always come to pass, and we, as followers of His Son need to do what His Son did in His life and from the cross: “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer “(Romans 12:12).
Psalm 22
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest.
Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. In you our fathers trusted; they trusted, and you delivered them. To you they cried and were rescued; in you they trusted and were not put to shame.
But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by the people. All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads; “He trusts in the LORD; let him deliver him; let him rescue him, for he delights in him!”
Yet you are he who took me from the womb; you made me trust you at my mother’s breasts. On you was I cast from my birth, and from my mother’s womb you have been my God. Be not far from me, for trouble is near, and there is none to help.
Many bulls encompass me; strong bulls of Bashan surround me; they open wide their mouths at me, like a ravening and roaring lion.
I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted within my breast; my strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to my jaws; you lay me in the dust of death.
For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet— I can count all my bones— they stare and gloat over me; they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.
But you, O LORD, do not be far off! O you my help, come quickly to my aid! Deliver my soul from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dog! Save me from the mouth of the lion! You have rescued me from the horns of the wild oxen!
I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will praise you: You who fear the LORD, praise him! All you offspring of Jacob, glorify him, and stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel! For he has not despised or abhorred the affliction of the afflicted, and he has not hidden his face from him, but has heard, when he cried to him.
From you comes my praise in the great congregation; my vows I will perform before those who fear him. The afflicted shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek him shall praise the LORD! May your hearts live forever!
All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you. For kingship belongs to the LORD, and he rules over the nations.
All the prosperous of the earth eat and worship; before him shall bow all who go down to the dust, even the one who could not keep himself alive. Posterity shall serve him; it shall be told of the Lord to the coming generation; they shall come and proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn, that he has done it.
