Up all night with it. Will the Lord reject us for ever? Has his love run out? Has God forgotten how to be kind?
PSALM 77:4; PSALM 77:7–9 · BSB
You have kept my eyes from closing; I am too troubled to speak. “Will the Lord spurn us forever and never show His favor again? Is His loving devotion gone forever? Has His promise failed for all time? Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has His anger shut off His compassion?” Selah
Jesus is at ours and I'm doing everything. Everything. My sister Mary is just sitting at his feet, listening. So I asked him: Lord, don't you care that she's left me to do it all on my own? Tell her to help me.
LUKE 10:38–40 · BSB
As they traveled along, Jesus entered a village where a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to His message. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations to be made. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her to help me!”
How long, LORD? Are you going to forget me for ever? How long are you going to hide your face? How long do I carry this, sad every single day?
PSALM 13:1–2 · BSB
For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. How long, O LORD? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? How long must I wrestle in my soul, with sorrow in my heart each day? How long will my enemy dominate me?
If an enemy had said it, I could take it. But it was you. My friend. We used to walk to God's house together.
PSALM 55:12–14 · BSB
For it is not an enemy who insults me; that I could endure. It is not a foe who rises against me; from him I could hide. But it is you, a man like myself, my companion and close friend. We shared sweet fellowship together; we walked with the crowd into the house of God.
A day’s walk into the desert. Sat down under a broom tree. I’ve had enough, LORD. Take my life. I’m no better than my ancestors.
1 KINGS 19:4 · BSB
while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He sat down under a broom tree and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, LORD,” he said. “Take my life, for I am no better than my fathers.”
Fell asleep under the tree. Someone touched me. An angel. Get up and eat, he said. By my head: bread baked on hot coals, and a jar of water. Ate. Drank. Lay back down.
1 KINGS 19:5–6 · BSB
Then he lay down under the broom tree and fell asleep. Suddenly an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” And he looked around, and there by his head was a cake of bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. So he ate and drank and lay down again.
Storm on the lake. Waves coming over the side. Boat filling up. And he’s in the back, asleep on a cushion. Honestly.
MARK 4:35–38 · BSB
When that evening came, He said to His disciples, “Let us cross to the other side.” After they had dismissed the crowd, they took Jesus with them, since He was already in the boat. And there were other boats with Him. Soon a violent windstorm came up, and the waves were breaking over the boat, so that it was being swamped. But Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on the cushion. So they woke Him and said, “Teacher, don’t You care that we are perishing?”
We woke him. Don’t you care that we’re drowning? He told the wind off, said to the sea, “Quiet. Be still.” Dead calm. Then asked why we were so afraid.
MARK 4:38–40 · BSB
But Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on the cushion. So they woke Him and said, “Teacher, don’t You care that we are perishing?” Then Jesus got up and rebuked the wind and the sea. “Silence!” He commanded. “Be still!” And the wind died down, and it was perfectly calm. “Why are you so afraid?” He asked. “Do you still have no faith?”
Olive grove called Gethsemane. He took Peter, John and me further in. Said he’s so sad it feels like it could kill him. Asked us to stay and keep watch.
MARK 14:32–34 · BSB
Then they came to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus told His disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” He took with Him Peter, James, and John, and began to be deeply troubled and distressed. Then He said to them, “My soul is consumed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch.”
He went on a bit further and fell with his face on the ground. Asked his Father to take this cup away from him, if there’s any way. Then: not what I want. What you want.
MATTHEW 26:39 · BSB
Going a little farther, He fell facedown and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will.”
Macedonia was no better. No rest at all. Fights on the outside, fears on the inside. But God, who comforts people who are down, comforted us: Titus arrived. And not just seeing him. He told us how much you miss us, how sorry you are, how much you care. I was happier than ever.
For when we arrived in Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were pressed from every direction—conflicts on the outside, fears within. But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the arrival of Titus, and not only by his arrival, but also by the comfort he had received from you. He told us about your longing, your mourning, and your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced all the more.
They were nervous when I got there. Proper fear and trembling. But they did everything that was asked, and I came away with my spirits lifted.
2 CORINTHIANS 7:13; 2 CORINTHIANS 7:15 · BSB
On account of this, we are encouraged. In addition to our own encouragement, we were even more delighted by the joy of Titus. For his spirit has been refreshed by all of you. And his affection for you is even greater when he remembers that you were all obedient as you welcomed him with fear and trembling.
Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest, and your Father feeds them. Aren’t you worth much more than they are? Can worrying add a single hour to your life?
MATTHEW 6:26–27 · BSB
Look at the birds of the air: They do not sow or reap or gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
He talked to us about worry for a while. The ravens bit stuck with me. They don't plant or harvest, and God feeds them. And the wild flowers: Solomon at his most splendid wasn't dressed as well as one of them.
LUKE 12:22–27 · BSB
Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storehouse or barn; yet God feeds them. How much more valuable you are than the birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? So if you cannot do such a small thing, why do you worry about the rest? Consider how the lilies grow: They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory was adorned like one of these.
Come to me, all of you who are tired and weighed down, and I’ll give you rest. My yoke is easy and my burden is light.
MATTHEW 11:28–30 · BSB
Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
Don't let your hearts be troubled. You trust God; trust me too. There are plenty of rooms in my Father's house.
JOHN 14:1–2 · BSB
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe in Me as well. In My Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?
4Hand it over
Nobody here fixed it by thinking harder. They took it to God, sometimes literally.
As Hannah kept on praying before the LORD, Eli watched her mouth. Hannah was praying in her heart, and though her lips were moving, her voice could not be heard. So Eli thought she was drunk and said to her, “How long will you be drunk? Put away your wine!” “No, my lord,” Hannah replied. “I am a woman troubled in spirit. I have not had any wine or strong drink, but I have poured out my soul before the LORD. Do not take your servant for a wicked woman, for all this time I have been praying out of the depth of my anguish and grief.”
In my defence, your lips were moving and nothing was coming out.
1 SAMUEL 1:13–14 · BSB
Hannah was praying in her heart, and though her lips were moving, her voice could not be heard. So Eli thought she was drunk and said to her, “How long will you be drunk? Put away your wine!”
Don’t worry about anything. Pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him. And God’s peace, which is beyond anything we can understand, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
PHILIPPIANS 4:6–7 · BSB
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Why so down, my soul? Hope in God. I'll praise him again.
Three times I had to tell myself that, across two songs.
PSALM 42:5; PSALM 42:11; PSALM 43:5 · BSB
Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why the unease within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him for the salvation of His presence. Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why the unease within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God. Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why the unease within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God.
Fourteen days you’ve been on edge and waiting, and nobody’s eaten a thing. Please eat something. You need it to get through this. Not one hair on anyone’s head is going to be lost.
ACTS 27:33–34 · BSB
Right up to daybreak, Paul kept urging them all to eat: “Today is your fourteenth day in constant suspense, without taking any food. So for your own preservation, I urge you to eat something, because not a single hair of your head will be lost.”
Running from my own son, Absalom. More and more of them against me every day, and they're all saying it: God won't get him out of this one.
PSALM 3:1–2 · BSB
A Psalm of David, when he fled from his son Absalom. O LORD, how my foes have increased! How many rise up against me! Many say of me, “God will not deliver him.” Selah
Unless the LORD builds the house, the builders are wasting their time. Up early, up late, working hard for your bread. Pointless. He gives sleep to the people he loves.
PSALM 127:1–2 · BSB
A song of ascents. Of Solomon. Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain; unless the LORD protects the city, its watchmen stand guard in vain. In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for bread to eat—for He gives sleep to His beloved.
I’m the one who has seen it. He’s driven me into the dark. My strength is gone, and so is my hope from the LORD.
LAMENTATIONS 3:1–2; LAMENTATIONS 3:18 · BSB
I am the man who has seen affliction under the rod of God’s wrath. He has driven me away and made me walk in darkness instead of light. So I say, “My strength has perished, along with my hope from the LORD.”
To stop me getting conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me. Three times I begged the Lord to take it away. He said to me, “My grace is enough for you.” His power is made perfect in weakness.
2 CORINTHIANS 12:7–9 · BSB
or because of these surpassingly great revelations. So to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me.
So I’ll gladly boast about my weaknesses, so Christ’s power can rest on me. Insults, hardships, persecution, trouble: for Christ’s sake, I’m glad of them. When I am weak, then I am strong.
2 CORINTHIANS 12:9–10 · BSB
But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me. That is why, for the sake of Christ, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Sing, Daughter of Zion! Shout, Israel! Be glad with all your heart, Jerusalem. The LORD has taken away your punishment. The King of Israel, the LORD, is with you. You’ll never fear harm again.
ZEPHANIAH 3:14–15 · BSB
Sing for joy, O Daughter of Zion; shout aloud, O Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, O Daughter of Jerusalem! The LORD has taken away your punishment; He has turned back your enemy. Israel’s King, the LORD, is among you; no longer will you fear any harm.
The LORD your God is with you, mighty to save. He will take great delight in you. He will quiet you with his love. He will rejoice over you with singing.
ZEPHANIAH 3:17 · BSB
The LORD your God is among you; He is mighty to save. He will rejoice over you with gladness; He will quiet you with His love; He will rejoice over you with singing.”
The LORD is my shepherd. I have everything I need.
Green fields. Quiet water. He brings me back to life. Even when I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I won't be afraid, because you're with me. My cup's overflowing.
PSALM 23:1–6 · BSB
A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for the sake of His name. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
Put it down for tonight. It'll still be looked after in the morning.
Sennacherib, king of Assyria
