Read: Psalm 4
Be gracious to me, and hear my prayer. Psalm 4:1
What an amazing claim—that God Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end hears our prayers and responds to them. The idea that God even notices the puny speck of humanity we are is mind boggling. In fact, given our minuscule standing in the universe, it is worth questioning God’s attentiveness to us. In the great swirl and expanse of the cosmos, how is it possible that God cares for me?
You can hear cries of doubt in the Psalms. Psalms are ancient prayers of both doubt and praise, worry and worship, deep questioning, and yet, even deeper trust. The ancient Hebrews were at times wary of God’s absence while hopeful of experiencing God’s presence. There are many times in our lives when it feels as if God’s gaze is far off, and we cry out for God’s presence, not fully believing we are deserving of God’s attention. And yet, God is there listening, responding, and heeding our cries. With all the doubt and anxiety that is present in the Psalms, the final notes of these sacred hymns tend to be hopeful. “I will both lie down and sleep in peace; for you alone, O Lord, make me lie down in safety.”
Have you given thanks lately for God’s presence in and attentiveness to your life?
Lord, I confess that I often doubt that You care for me. You are so silent. You are so unsearchable. You are so far beyond my ability to comprehend. And yet, I trust that You are there. Somehow, deep inside, I sense Your presence. And when push comes to shove, I trust in Your leading. I thank You for Your continual attention and presence in my life. In Your name, I pray. AMEN.