Doubt Part 2

Where is God when all I hear is silence? Psalms 42 bounces all over the place
Clay Smith JFBC
Drought in Europe is the worst in history hundreds of years
Psalms talks about spiritual drought . Depicts human emotion. 42 and 43 used to be the same psalm. A mascal is a teaching psalm. From why is my soul in despair to my soul pants for you. Usually the deer finds water but when it doesn’t it pants for more. Some accept Jesus but sometime later can’t feel him. But we don’t stand on what we feel, but who we know.

A. Reasons for spiritual doubt…why
Justification is the moment of conversation. Sanctification is living out our faith
1. Sin. Trusting yourself more than God is one sin. Isaiah 59:2 creates a barrier between us and God.
2. Being in a rut. Habits and disciplines can help but sometimes those habits are so predictable that we’re not living by faith and depending on God
3. Unrealistic expectations. Mission trips can be great but coming back down from the mountaintop can bring tribulation. The Christian life is more about the daily living.
4. Suffering can bring drought or joy.

B. Results of spiritual doubt
1. Isolation. V 4 in Psalm 42 multitudes celebrate but this psalmist is alone. In dry times we drift apart from community. Covid has been a test. Can’t do Christian community through a screen.
2. Opposition. V3 and 10 others ask where is your God? When in drought the critics grow louder. Complainers hurt worse when in drought. Satan is a slanderer. Eph 6 in drought hard to pick up the shield. Pray that God’s voice be the loudest
3. Exhaustion. We go go go. Our bodies can live at a pace that our souls can’t keep up with. Spurgeon suffered from depression. Every day I need to have unhurried time with Jesus while not doing other things at the same time

C. Remedies
1. Be honest with God v 5 and 6, v 9 don’t hide from God. Confess to God what’s going on.
2. Look back, remember the good times with God, what God has done in your life. His faithfulness. That’s the clearest place to see what God has done, including unanswered prayers.
3. Interrupt ourselves with the gospel v 5 and 11 wait for God. Remind ourselves that we know God and how He’s worked in my life, and not just how I feel right now. There’s nothing I can do to fix things, but God can. Remember this. John Stott quote: the great …of depression is…

Clay also said mentioned all the complaints he gets, people voicing their opinions. He said “Hey, I have opinions too!” He said in a previous church a lady kept complaining and complaining about so many things, saying “they say you should do this and that.” Finally he told the lady he wanted to meet with her. He told the lady she had to tell him who all these “they people” were. “Do I have to?” she asked. Yes, he demanded. Well, uh, there’s my husband, and uh, my daughter, and uh…” Turned out there were like three people not satisfied with things.

Saturday morning eggy boy.

Interesting what Denison said about how if Liz Cheney ran as an independent because she disliked Trump, that might get him elected by pulling votes away from Biden. I don’t keep up with it all that closely. Man being President would be tough, especially in this day and age. Everyone out to get you. Back in the day Republicans and Democrats would work together in Congress to get a bill passed. Now Republicans are fighting amongst themselves. Democrats too. Being president of the Braves would be more fun, but a tough job as well.

GEORGE KELL  [SABR Bio] struck out the fewest times while leading the majors in hitting. In 1949, Kell hit .343, best in either league. He had 613 plate appearances that season and only struck out 13 times. He thwarted Ted Williams’ fifth batting crown and third Triple Crown by a miniscule margin: .34291 to .34276. Williams admired the effort. Kell came in 8th in league MVP voting and was only third in WAR on his own team. Williams was the AL MVP in ‘49. Detroit pitchers Trucks and Newhouser had WAR ratings of 6.3 & 5.7, besting Kell’s very respectable 4.8. Kell became a Hall of Famer 13-Jul-1983 with fellow Arkansan Brooks Robinson as well as Juan Marichal & Dodger manager Walt Alston.

A good follow, though I really don't have the time to read each one to figure out the reference.