Today’s reflection is written by Deacon Karen Katamay.

“Hear my prayer, O Lord, and give ear to my cry; do not be silent at my tears.” —Psalm 39:12

Do you have something that you pray for every day, waiting for God to bring an answer or relief? Something that is weighing on you and making you wonder if God is listening or even cares? For many of us right now, we are praying every day for an end to this pandemic. We are also reminded this day of the horror that happened on September 11^th in 2001. When we deal with things like this that are beyond our control, we can sometimes question whether God is silent at our tears.  

When King David wrote this psalm, he was reflecting on the fleeting nature of life, and after trying to be quiet and meditate on God, he found he could not hold his tongue (or his tears) any longer. He confesses his sins and asks for forgiveness. He reflects on his own mortality and the mortality of all those around him. He feels that his trials and tribulations are a punishment from God and that God has turned away from him. Yet we know from the Bible that David was chosen by God and God never turned away from him. Just as he never turns away from us, but instead takes the trials of this life and uses them as a way to draw us closer to him, wrapping us with love and grace when we need it most.

In verse 7 of Psalm 39, David reminds us what to look for when we pray: “But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you.” God is our hope when everything feels hopeless around us. And remembering that will carry us even through the worst of times.  

“Your eyes are open to all the ways of mortals.” —Jeremiah 32:19b

Do you ever find yourself trying to explain something to God? Maybe you’re trying to let him know about the extenuating circumstances that help provide context for—if not excuse for—some regrettable bit of behavior. Or maybe your conversation with God is flowing along like any other conversation, and you’re just providing some updates and background information that God will need if he’s really going to understand.

Even though this is, at some level, a little silly, I don’t think that’s always a bad thing. God wants us to approach him openly and honestly. We shouldn’t talk to God in fear of making a mistake of logic in our speech. I imagine when we start to explain things to God, he smiles a bit and thinks, “Yes, I know, child.”

Scripture reminds us again and again that God’s knowledge and understanding is far beyond our own. There’s no truth we can tell God that he doesn’t already know.

The prophet Jeremiah, who lived about 600 years before Jesus, spoke about the power and sovereignty of God. In the words just before today’s verse, Jeremiah spoke of God’s might and righteous judgment. In the words immediately following today’s verse, Jeremiah spoke of God rewarding “each person according to their conduct and as their deeds deserve.”

God is not blind to our reality. He can’t be fooled. This should give us a healthy sense of reverence for God. God is mighty and he knows the truth about us, even truth that we hide from every other person (and even truth that we hide from ourselves).

But this reality should encourage us so much more than it should frighten us. Because we know that God sent his Son to die for us knowing full well who we are. When Jesus suffered for us, God in freedom made the deal with humanity that he wanted to make.

This also means that there is no thing we go through that God does not understand. When you’re hurting, when you’re feeling weak, when you’re giddy with excitement or scared of what’s around the corner, when you’re anxious or worn out, when you’re grieving a loss you don’t think you can bear, God understands. God knows. God loves you and cares about you and is stronger than anything that opposes you.

I find this incredibly comforting. I’ll never hear God say “Oh, I didn’t know that was important to you.” God knows us better than we know ourselves. He’s a good, great, and mighty Father. And he is our Father.

Praise him sun and moon; praise him all you shining stars! For he commanded and they were created. Psalm 148: 3,5

When I was a freshman in college at Concordia University in River Forest, the school took all the new students to a camp a few hours away in Wisconsin. I remember two things about that trip.

First, on day 2 I woke up with a HUGE mosquito bite right above my lip. Second, the sheer number of stars that I could see in the sky.

One of the tradeoffs of living in a big city is that the light pollution is going to mask most of the stars. So any time I catch an unobscured glimpse of God’s beautiful creation, I will get a sore neck because I have to look up. One of the realities of our sin is that it masks all of the awesome and beautiful things that God has placed within each one of us.

Today, may we look for opportunities to catch glimpses of the beauty God placed in us and each person we meet today. 

O God, you are my God, I seek you, my soul thirsts for you. —Psalm 63:1

“Let anyone who is thirsty come to me.” —John 7:37

In grade school, when my class would come in from recess on a hot day, we’d stop at the water fountain before heading back to the classroom. After putting all we had into climbing on monkey bars, playing freeze tag, and racing each other on the black top, we’d pour back into the school building and discover we were all desperately thirsty. I remember reaching the front of the line at the water fountain and feeling like I could drink forever and never get enough. And because we all felt that way, each kid had a five-second limit, or else we’d be there till the afternoon bell rang. As the kid behind me would count 1…2…3…4…5, I’d gulp down as much water as I could, each second precious and wonderful. Somehow this post-recess water was always cooler, sweeter, and more satisfying than anything else, and we couldn’t get enough of it.

I love when the Bible taps into our physical sensations to help us understand God. Today’s passages invite us to access our experience of thirst. Take a moment to recall what it feels like to be very thirsty. Now take a moment to recall how deeply satisfying it is to quench that kind of thirst with a generous sip of fresh water. This is the kind of interaction that occurs between our spirit and God. When Jesus invites all who are thirsty to come to him, we are reminded that he is essential for our survival. We are reminded that drawing closer to him is sweeter and more satisfying that anything else.

Consider your current state of spiritual thirst. Perhaps, you’re staying hydrated: turning to God with regularity, steadily bringing God your needs and concerns, relying on Scripture routinely to sustain you, getting your spiritual 6-8 glasses a day. Perhaps, you’re like a child on the playground, running around getting thirstier by the minute without even knowing it, and only understanding just how parched you are when you stop and take stock. Maybe your thirst has grown gradually; you’re not especially uncomfortable yet, but you know that soon you will be, if you don’t stop and hydrate. Or perhaps you’ve recently taken a sip, and that cool rush you feel when it hits your belly lets you know just how badly you needed it. Or maybe you know perfectly well that you’re thirsty, but you keep drinking coffee and eating salty food, all the time aware that it’s time to pour yourself a tall glass of what your spirit really needs. How would you describe your current awareness of your own spiritual thirst, and how are you responding to it? How would you like to respond to it?

The fact is, sometimes we’re like the psalmist and we recognize our thirst. At other times, we ignore it or forget about it or try to satisfy it with things that only make us thirstier. But Jesus’ ability to quench our thirst always stands. Whether you can feel your soul’s thirst or not, these passages remind us that we need Jesus on a regular and ongoing basis in order to keep our souls healthy and hydrated. Only Jesus can provide that kind of life-giving, life-sustaining refreshment. And this goodness is to be enjoyed and shared generously for the well being of us all.

As you go through this day, consider turning your own encounters with thirst and water into acts of prayer. Each time your body feels thirsty, meditate on your soul’s need for God. And each time you quench that thirst with a sip of water, meditate on how God is the one who satisfies and sustains you.