07 | Loneliness
The Psalms invite us into raw, passionate, and emotive life with God. The psalmists regularly expose the truth of their feelings before God, even in ways that may seem taboo in our lives. Many of us have believed that feelings are bad and can not be trusted. We've believed that feelings are poor guides, untrustworthy, and will ultimately lead us astray. The truth is, God gave us our emotions. Each of our emotions are helpful tools, leading us to whole-hearted living. Get this - our feelings can be a pathway to Jesus. Emotions expose our neediness. Our neediness provides an opportunity for us to be vulnerable. Genuine prayer allows us to bring our full selves to Jesus. Deep faith and full life include our feelings. We can trust that Jesus can handle, and even use our emotions.
This week we look at Loneliness.
Questions for Discussion
Read Psalm 42. What stands out to you?
What leads this writer (what in life brought him to this place) to think he is alone?
This psalm is a “maskil” or a psalm of “wisdom” - what is the wisdom that this person is offering?
What are the common threads to all the psalms we have been through? What are the solutions to all of our problems, our politics, our pressures, our anger, our loneliness, our enemies, our doubters, and our sins?
August 21, 2022 - Scott Cooley