In My Words

For me, understanding has always been in writing. I only truly process when I hear or read, ruminate, and then write. God's Word is no different. A friend of mine recently challenged me to take some of the Psalms, and put them into my own language (whoah, watch out Eugene!) This, she said, was a way to engage my heart in reading Scripture. So, I gave it a go. And, what do you know? The Lord is meeting me in it. 

The below is my take on Psalm 77. It's His words, with my pen—His truth, with a bit more of my understanding. I pray that God would use whatever means possible to get to my heart with His Never Stopping, Never Giving Up, Unbreaking, Always and Forever Love. I pray that for you, too. Because we need to hear it.

I shouted God's name. 
I yelled so loud so that He couldn't miss my voice.
When I was in trouble, I started toward God.
At night, I'd open my palms to Him,
but He didn't give me what I asked for.


I didn't stop. I remembered Him, and cried out to Him so much that it hurt.
I thought on Him, and became tired.
But He kept sleep from taking over.
I was way too upset to even form words.
I thought about the good old days.
I remembered those nights, and let my heart think before it asked:


"Is God always going to turn me away?
Will he ever treat me with kindness again?
Has that Never ending, Upstopping Love run out?
Has he gone back on His word to me?
Has he forgotten the meaning of grace?
In his anger over my sin, has he overlooked mercy?"


Then, I thought, I'll make this case:
I'll just remember the years when the Lord was so good to me; 
I'll remember his faithfulness, his miracles, and powerful displays.


The things you do, God, and are so OTHER.
Who is like you?
You do things that no one else can do.
You're just bigger.
You were the one that made sense out of Jacob and Joseph's story.


The water acknowledged you, though it stirred.
A storm brewed and raged, 
but it was all by your power, your hand.


It was marked-out path that took your children through the waters,
though no one acknowledged you as line leader.


You never stopped taking your people by the hand—Moses and Aaron, 
it was YOU who led them.