FAITH FOR DEEP, DARK VALLEYS

Sing to the Lord!

Give praise to the Lord!

He rescues the life of the needy...

Jeremiah 20.13

Jeremiah 20. 7-18 has an amazing "drama of three acts" about faith in the midst of intense pain and suffering.

Verses 7-10 lists the pain of abuse at the hands of others. This is primarily verbal persecution.

Verses 14-18 describe the hopelessness and dispair of seemingly endless suffering, for which is there is no relief. This suffering is so intense that Jeremiah's expresses death wishes. He wishes he had not been born, that he had been killed at birth--aborted, by his father.

In between these two passages there is an incredible statement of faith!

Verses 11-13--The Lord is with me...O Lord Almighty..to YOu I have committed my cause...He rescues the life of the needy...

This "dramatic pattern" is repeated endlessly throughout the Psalms.

Psalm 5 is the first clear series of interactions between suffering and celebration:

1-3: Faith while waiting

4-6: The "enemies"

7-8: Faith

9-10: The enemy

11-12: Faith

Psalms 42-45 are a connected series of Psalms that show us how God supports then rewards those who trust Him through the experience of being deeply "downcast." Psalm 45 is totally devoted to praise and celebration after the extended suffering of Psalm 44.

The Prophets portray this same "Valley-mountain" experioence of this life. Psalm 40 presents it as from the "pit" to the strength, stablility, and security of a rock foundation.

This view of God through the dark dispair of this life is the reason James can say so positively, "Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him."

Consider, then: Romans 8.28-39, 5.1-5, 15.1-6, 13; 2 Corinthians 1.3-11; 2 Corinthians 12.7-10; James 1.2-5; Philippians 3.7-11; 1 Peter 1.6-7, 4.12-13; 2 Peter 1.3-11. There are many more like these. And we have examples throughout the Old Testament, as noted in Hebrews 11.35-40.

But, especially concentrate on the patterns and promises of the Psalms.

(I apologize for the "cramped" format. I have no idea of how to format these thoughts so they are more visually helpful to your readings.)