psalm 77.

For the director of music. Fore Jeduthun. Of Asaph. A psalm.

1I cried out to God for help;
I cried out ot God to hear me.
2When I ws in distress, I sought the Lord;
at night I stretched out untiring hands,
and I would not be comforted.

3I rememberedyou, God, and I groaned;
I meditated, and my spirit grew faint.
4You kept my eyes from closing;
I was too troubled to speak.
5I thought about the former days,
the years of long ago;
6I remembered my songs in the night.
My heart meditated and my spirit asked:

7"Will the Lord reject forever?
Will he never show his favor again?
8Has his unfailing love vanished forever?
Has his promise failed for all time?
9Has God forgotten to be merciful?
Has he in anger withheld his compassion?"

10Then I thought, "To this I will appeal:
the years when the Most High stretchedout his right hand.
11I will remember the deeds of the Lord;
yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.
12I will consider all your works
and meditate on all your mighty deeds."

13Your ways, God, are holy.
What god is as great as our God?
14You are the God who performs miracles;
you display your power among the peoples.
15With your mighty arm you redeemed your people,
the descendants of Jacob and Joseph.

16The waters saw you, God.
the waters saw you and writhed;
the very depths were convulsed.
17The clouds poured down water,
the heaves resounded with thunder;
your arrows flashed back and forth.
18Your thunder was heard in the whirlwind,
your lightning lit up the world;
the earth trembled and quaked.
19Your path led through the sea,
your way through the mighty waters,
though your footprints were not seen.

20You led your people like a flock
by the hand of Moses and Aaron.

wow.
Well first of all praise God for this verse and it's conviction and encouragement.

How often do I look back on the "good old days" and long for it and wonder why God took it away? Why didn't he replace it with something? (verse 5) I am humbled by this. As a response to his fear that God will never show up again, that he will abandon forever. "Will the Lord reject forever?" Sure I had a rough year, but I should look to the author for how I ought to respond to the hard times.

Praise.

"To this I will appeal: the years when the Most High stretched out his right hand. I will remember the deeds of the Lord;" (verses 10-11a). What a great idea. When I feel abandoned, frustrated, or angry at the Lord I ought to look and what he has done for me. I ought to humble myself and praise the Lord for his abundance.

This year was amazing. CRU was amazing. The people I met...the things I saw...the changes in my life. God is amazing.