YOU’LL NEVER WALK ALONE

It is said that when Esther came into the inner court of Ahasuerus, the pagan king of the Medes and Persians, she begin to sob while quoting the first line of this psalm. Matthew and Mark tell us that Jesus quoted these same lines in Aramaic, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani,” while hanging on the cross. God had not really forsaken them, but they were expressing what it felt like having no God to help them. Between going out to battle and upon returning home in victory, there were some scary moments on the battlefield for King David. But they all kept their faith in a caring God who never fails.

“O God, my God, why haven’t You done anything to help me; why is it taking so long for my help to arrive; don’t you hear my gut-wrenching screams for help? My One True God, I’ve been on my knees all day—but still no reply; I stay on my knees all night—but still no answer. Aren’t You the One who sits on His throne and listens for His children to call out to Him in prayer? Aren’t You the same One our forefathers trusted unconditionally; the One they believed would help them gain their freedom. And when they cried out for help, You set them free. They absolutely trusted You, and You didn’t let them down. Please, O LORD Eternal, don’t put it off any longer; I need Your help, and I need it now in order to survive. This will protect me from their daggers and keep me away from their claws; for they are like hungry lions and wild bulls out to make my life miserable. Then I’ll let my whole family and congregation know how fantastic You are. So to my brothers and sisters I say, ‘Brag on Him! Yes, those of you who call yourselves His children, honor Him! Let everyone who claims to be His child, stand in awe of Him! For He did not pretend to love you; no, He did not make fun of those who were living in misery. Neither did He turn away as though He didn’t care; rather, when you pleaded with Him He heard your faintest cry. That’s what inspires me to stand up in front of the congregation and testify; to let those who worship Him know how much I owe Him. That way, those who are down and out, and those who are looking for His help will have an opportunity to celebrate Him. And I pray that your hearts will be lifted up forever and ever!” Psalm 22:1-5, 19-26

Reflection: In 1936, a troubled and despondent Christian teenager named Mary Stevenson, from Chester, Pennsylvania, decided to express her feelings in a poem. Here’s how she described her situation: “One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord. Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky. In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand. Sometimes there were two sets of footprints, other times there was only one. This bothered me because I noticed that during the low periods of my life, when I was suffering from anguish, sorrow or defeat, I could see only one set of footprints, so I said to the Lord, ‘You promised me Lord, that if I followed you, you would walk with me always. But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life there has only been one set of footprints in the sand. Why, when I needed you most, have you not been there for me?’ The Lord replied, ‘The years when you have seen only one set of footprints, my child, is when I carried you’.”

David surely felt this way, but in the end he realized that God saw things much differently than he did. So rather than trust in his own instincts, or give in to his fears and doubts, he threw himself at God’s feet and said, “I’m in Your hands.” Both Miss Stevenson and King David give us good examples in continuing our walk with God. So when you feel all alone, just remember, He’s closer than you think or even know.