Skip to main content

Despair


Despair.

Ugh. This isn't a very fun word of the day. What are we to do with despair? 

Have you ever been there - in a place of despair? What was that like? 

The Psalmists talk about despair in really open and honest ways, "Insults have broken my heart, so that I am in despair. I looked for pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none." (Ps. 69:20)

Ugh again. 

One of the gifts (and challenges!) of the Psalms is that they're raw and honest about the many feelings, emotions, and experiences that we have as humans.

Spend some time with the Psalms this week. What do you notice? What other feelings, emotions, and experiences do the Psalmists talk openly about?

Popular posts from this blog

Knowing Who You Are

Sometimes it is hard to remember who you are. There is just so much noise. There is just so much to do. There are just so many voices vying for attention. There is just so much negativity. There is just so much to worry about. There are just so many distractions. In the midst of it all, it is really hard to remember who you are. And it all seems to move so fast. In the Gospel of Mark, we have a similar fast moving story that takes the reader through Jesus' baptism, his temptation in the desert, and his proclamation of the kingdom of God. This is where it all begins for the author. Listen to the voice of God through this reading from Mark.  "In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.  And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him.   And a voice came from heaven, 'You are my Son, the Beloved;   with you I am well pleased.' And the Spirit immediatel...
Read more

Preparing for Advent: Waiting in Gratitude

The season of Advent invites us into a posture of waiting. We wait expectantly for the arrival of Jesus, Emmanuel – God with us . There is no doubt that most of this year has felt like one long season of waiting. This year, with its constant chatter of change, division, turmoil, and transition, has kept us waiting in ways that have drastically altered our way of being in the world. And so, we continue to wait.  Yet, we continue to wait in new, unique, and unexpected ways. So, as we prepare for this particular season of Advent, what posture of waiting are we being invited to take in 2020? What if our invitation is a posture of gratitude? How might we wait in gratitude? What are you feeling especially grateful for this year? Who are you feeling especially grateful for this year? How might you express your gratitude? It is our hope that our waiting will be guided and grounded in this gratitude throughout the Advent season. As such, over the next four weeks, as we wait in gr...
Read more

Curiosity.

  Curiosity.   “There the angel of the Lord appeared to [Moses] in a flame of fire out of a bush; he looked, and the bush was blazing, yet it was not consumed.  Then Moses said, “I must turn aside and look at this great sight and see why the bush is not burned up.” (Exodus 3:2-3)   What are you currently feeling curious about?  When in your life have you experienced the need to “turn aside” and see what is happening? Have you ever had a “burning bush” moment in your life?
Read more