Questioning, questioning

Laura Digan June 23, 2025 1 0

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Psalm 43 (NIVUK)

1 Vindicate me, my God,
    and plead my cause
    against an unfaithful nation.
Rescue me from those who are
    deceitful and wicked.
2 You are God my stronghold.
    Why have you rejected me?
Why must I go about mourning,
    oppressed by the enemy?
3 Send me your light and your faithful care,
    let them lead me;
let them bring me to your holy mountain,
    to the place where you dwell.
4 Then I will go to the altar of God,
    to God, my joy and my delight.
I will praise you with the lyre,
    O God, my God.

5 Why, my soul, are you downcast?
    Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
    for I will yet praise him,
    my Saviour and my God.

Sometimes in life our troubles, especially within relationships, can come from a lack of self-awareness, or by not acknowledging our authentic feelings. 

I think of myself as a straightforward person, of always saying it like it is and I expect other people to be the same. Except they are not! People will drop hints or talk around something so I’m left trying to follow a trail of clues as to what it is they actually want and need. I have come to realise that perhaps I play a part within this dynamic. I am straightforward but this can make me blunt and for people who don’t know me well they can be unsure how best to approach me. 

I think we can all be like this when we come to the Bible, unsure of how to read it. Is it really straightforward? What is it that is actually meant within the passage? How do we accept what seems like a harsh word? How does one passage relate or inspire another? So many questions. And as we read and understand it raises so many questions and challenges within ourselves. And there aren’t always clear answers. 

The Bible is God’s living word and so our encounters with the Bible have to be relational. So each time we read it we need to pray and invite the Holy Spirit to join us to illuminate our understanding. And if possible come together with others to read and study God’s word in community.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, you are the Word made flesh

Be present with me as I read my Bible today. 

Open my ears to the message and my eyes to your love. 

Strip away any bias I have that I bring with me or pride in my own knowledge. 

Instead keep my heart open to the leading of the Holy Spirit so that the word burns afresh in me today.

Amen