Reflection

On day 2 we looked at Psalm 121, where the author spoke about looking to the ‘hills’ and pondering the question as to whether help comes from those hills.

This psalmist does not doubt that one’s eyes must lift higher than the hills to the one who sits ‘enthroned in heaven.’ Yet the humanity of this author comes forth in an unexpected way. This is not just ‘another psalm’ on praying to God for help. It is the desperate cry of one who has prayed but tasted the bitterness of a seemingly empty heaven.

Who has not had this emotion crush one’s passion for prayer? The silence of heaven during times of our greatest need has produced some of the greatest prose in the annals of history not to mention some of the most emotionally charged songs ever written. It has also produced a loss of faith for those who form the opinion that silence represents rejection.

Here’s where this psalmist signifies hope in the midst of silence.

After the prayer is uttered, the author vulnerably and honestly looks for some sign that they have been heard. How realistic is this? How many times has one craved some semblance of response from God, to at least know God is working on my prayer?

In the New Living Translation, this verse says that the one who prays looks to God as the ‘slave girl looks to her mistress for the slightest signal.’ Sometimes you just need the ‘slightest signal’ that you have been heard. That’s enough; all I need; I can hang in there. The psalmist might as well be writing my story; that’s why I love the Psalms so much. They represent me.

Prayer

Dear Lord God, as I pray, I truly acknowledge my humanity, and so, Lord, I ask for even the slightest sign that my prayers have reached your heart. Forgive my doubt, oh Lord, and like children who ask their parents more than once for the same thing, please can you give me even the slightest sign that you have heard me? I will hang on to that Lord, as I continue to look towards you, for all my hope is in you.