These cross-born words of Jesus from Matthew 27:46 (NRSV), hauntingly echo across the centuries to us… and they are hard to hear. Was Jesus really all alone on the cross? Had God abandoned his own Son in his time of great need? 

God, why have you forsaken me?  It’s a tough question all of us have asked.  Our circumstances and words are certainly different from Jesus’ on the cross… but the question is the same. 

Questioning God in prayer, as Jesus did, is not an act of unbelief or sin.  It’s an act of faith!  In fact, as pastor and writer Adam Hamilton shares (leaning on his commentary on this passage in this blog), questioning God helps keep the lines of communication open, especially in times when God seems silent. 

But when Jesus felt all alone on the cross, there was more than just questioning God going on there.  The phrase, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me” is actually the opening line to Psalm 22, an ancient Jewish worship song that Jesus would have known.  And as the song’s words ran through his mind, Jesus would have come to this: “Yet you are holy (God), enthroned on the praises of Israel,” (Psalm 22:3, NRSV). 

John Stonecypher, the creator of The Shack Bible Project, shares that Psalm 22 says “I feel like Papa (God) has abandoned me, but I know He has not!  On the cross, Jesus is faced with the Garden of Eden’s serpent’s oh-so-convincing lie that Papa (God) cannot be trusted. But by faith he pushes through and refuses to believe the lie. He honestly expresses he’s feelings, but also shouts his triumph over human darkness, fear, and isolation. ‘I feel forsaken,’ Jesus says ‘but I know I am not.’”

When God is silent or even absent, follow Jesus’ example.  It will give you confident hope of God’s presence, no matter what your situation may be… a confident hope that even death is not the end.  Remember… Easter is still yet to come!  

“God is our refuge and strength, a help always near in times of great trouble.  That’s why we won’t be afraid when the world falls apart, when the mountains crumble into the center of the sea, when its waters roar and rage, when the mountains shake because of its surging waves.” (Psalm 46:1-3, CEB)

Refuge...  Strength...  Two very powerful words used by the ancient psalm writer to describe God!

Refuge.  At times God is our protector… shields, comforts, and provides.  Sometimes we talk about being wrapped up or carried in the arms of God.  Maybe that’s one way of getting at what it means for God to be our refuge. 

Strength.  At times God is our warrior… fights, battles, and overcomes. Sometimes we talk about knowing God has already won the victory.  Maybe that’s one way of getting at what in means for God to be our strength.

The good news of Psalm 46 is that God, our refuge and strength, is always near to help!  And that’s especially true in times of great trouble, when the foundation of our world and lives falls apart, when the mountains of safety we’ve built for ourselves crumble, and when the waters of chaos and uncertainty roar around us.  Any of that sound familiar?

I invite you to pray the words of Psalm 46:1 as a “breath prayer.”  1) Take a deep breath and pray the first phrase: “God is my refuge and strength” as you exhale. Take another deep breath and pray the second phrase: “A help always near in times of great trouble,” as you exhale again. 

Whenever you find yourself in a place/time when your world seems to be falling apart… maybe even right now… pray Psalm 46:1 as a breath prayer.  Pray it as many times in a row and as often as you need to in order to become aware of the presence of the living God with you that is both your refuge/protector and your strength/warrior. 

Last week, the daffodils burst into full bloom around the edges of our backyard.  Right on cue, these bright yellow flowers announced that spring had arrived.  It was such a curious contradiction to the “shutting down” of our society and lives due to Coronavirus, I just had to stop and take a picture. What a gorgeous and compelling reminder of the power of creation’s renewal…  And of God’s power to make things new! 

From beginning to end, the Scriptures proclaim God’s power to make things new!

            “God saw everything he made: it was supremely good.”  (Genesis 1:31, CEB)

            “Look! I’m doing a new thing; now it sprouts up… I’m making a way in the desert paths in the wilderness.”      (Isaiah 43:19, CEB)

           “So then, if anyone is in Christ, that person is part of the new creation. The old things have gone away, and look,      new things have arrived!”  (2 Corinthians 5:17, CEB)

           “Then I saw a new heaven and new earth… ‘Look! God’s dwelling is here with humankind… God himself will be with them as their God.’” (Revelation 21:1-3)

Steven Curtis Chapman says it this way in his song “All Things New.” (Listen at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhpQN9JXNXA )
            You (God) make all things new…
            You redeem and You transform.
            You renew and You restore.
            You make all things new…
            And forever we will watch and worship You.

No matter how much things seem to be shutting down, turning off, getting dark, or losing life around you… remember God has, God is, and God will make all things new.  Just watch!

One day Jesus and his disciples boarded a boat.  He said to them, “Let’s cross over to the other side of the lake.”  So, they set sail.  While they were sailing, he fell asleep.  Gale-force winds swept down on the lake.  The boat was filling up with water and they were in danger.  So, they went and woke Jesus, shouting, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!”  But he got up and gave orders to the wind and the violent waves.  The storm died down and it was calm.  He said to his disciples, “Where is your faith?”  Filled with awe and wonder, they said to each other, “Who is this?  He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him!”  (Luke 8:22-25, CEB)

This has always been one of my favorite Jesus stories.  As a child, I remember hearing this story in Sunday School or sermon and letting my imagination run wild.  By the time it was all over the winds were a tornado, the waves were as big as a barn, and the disciples were in hip waders.  Then there was Jesus… sound asleep.  Never could figure that one out.

While reading this favorite story again earlier this week, something occurred to me that I’d never thought of before.  The Bible says that the boat Jesus and the disciples were in encountered gale-force winds, was taking on water, and it was a dangerous situation.  However, when the disciples woke Jesus up, they shouted “We’re going to drown!” 

They didn’t describe their situation to Jesus. Instead, they shared their biggest fear of what might happen because of their situation.  They jumped straight to the worst possible scenario. 

My mind often jumps straight to the worst possible scenario.  How about you?

In the midst of this Coronavirus storm you should definitely pray.  What I humbly suggest is that when you pray, is that you don’t frantically ask God to do something about the worst possible scenario.  Rather in faith, simply share your situation with God and remember who is in your boat!