Psalm 6: 1-4
1 O Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger
or discipline me in your wrath.
2 Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am languishing;
O Lord, heal me, for my bones are shaking with terror.
3 My soul also is struck with terror,
while you, O Lord—how long?4 Turn, O Lord, save my life;
deliver me for the sake of your steadfast love.
For the Lenten season this year, we will spend our time in the Psalms. The Lent season is so filled with emotions as we journey through Jesus’s ministry, the trial, crucifixion and our ultimate joy in the resurrection. The Psalms reflect so many of these similar emotions intertwined with the human experience.
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of our Lenten season. With the marking of ashes, this special day in the life of the church reminds us of our own mortality, our own ashes and dust, and our feeling of being separated from God. In this 6th Psalm for today, the psalmist is reaching out to God and sharing how much of a struggle life can be at times. There are times when we wonder how long our struggles will continue and we continually return to God to be an ear in our pain but also to ask for relief.
We can take comfort that God hears our questions, our turmoil and is with us through it all. While we might not always get the answers that we want, we know that God is with us. Jesus’s life and ministry is the ultimate example of God with us as he walked with us, talked with us, and experienced the entirety of the human experience. God as Immanuel or literally “God with us” brings us comfort as we struggle knowing that we are both not alone and loved through it all.
Prayer
Immanuel, we are grateful that you are with us through it all. By giving us your son, God, you give us the ultimate empathy and compassion for whatever our struggles may be. Thank you for your listening ear, the gift of one another, and your sustaining spirit. Amen.