Mark Sorensen For as long as I can remember, I have always loved to journal. There’s really no method I follow. I write out my thoughts. Maybe it’s a quote that I have heard that I love. Perhaps it’s a future sermon series or an illustration that I might use in a future message. I will write out notes to my wife and kids — words that express my hopes for each of them and where I see God at work in their lives. And? I write to God. Seriously. Pages begin with, “Dear God…” and then I just go. Sometimes there’s order. For example, in my written prayers I work through A.C.T.S. (adoration, confession, thanksgiving, supplication). Other times, it’s just sporadic and what I feel. I tell God about the good days, I complain about the bad days, and I share my frustration over those days that I just don’t feel like He’s near.
Journaling has always been an important part of my faith journey. I have books of journals filled with hope, struggle, encouragement, prayers and confessions of struggle. Isn’t this life? There are ups, downs, twists, turns and forks in the road. It’s beautiful, messy, unpredictable, and, with a pen in hand, I’m writing what I see.
Guess what. I’m not the only one! Enter into the scene the book of Psalms.
Have you ever just wandered through the pages of Psalms? Same story. They are pages filled with writings of praise, struggle, hope, desperation and confession.
There are psalms of deep spiritual yearning: “Oh God, for you my soul is thirsting, my flesh is longing like a dry, weary land without water.” (Psalm 63). There are psalms of anger: “Destroy all those who oppress me, for you are my savior, oh Lord”. How about psalms of exultation: “I will lift up my eyes to the hills.” (Psalm 121) Feeling alone? Read Psalm 22. Scared? Psalm 55:1–23 is for you. Disappointed over the death of a dream? Psalm 107:1–43 is for you. Looking for joy today? Psalm 150:1–6.
Think about this: for over 3,000 years, people around the world have been singing the psalms. Within the 150 chapters, there is amazing wisdom, incredible honesty, authentic cries of hope and healing, and within the words we get a beautiful picture of who God is and who we are in the midst of God’s song over us.
This Sunday in the Harvest, we are going to open up the pages of Psalms and let the psalmist’s cries become our own. I can’t wait to dig into God’s Word and see what’s waiting for us all. Grab your pen and let’s write together.
