Prayer and Discouragement (Psalm 77:1-9)

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

³ I remembered you, God, and I groaned;
I meditated, and my spirit grew faint.
⁴ You kept my eyes from closing;
I was too troubled to speak.
⁵ I thought about the former days,
the years of long ago;
⁶ I 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?
⁸ Has his unfailing love vanished forever?
Has his promise failed for all time?
⁹ Has God forgotten to be merciful?
Has he in anger withheld his compassion?”

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What struck me in this psalm is the reference to insomnia in verse 4.  I hadn’t noticed that in previous readings of this psalms.  As someone who is occasionally afflicted with insomnia, I appreciate its inclusion among the signs of the psalmist’s distress.  As is often pointed out, nearly every human struggle and trial is referenced somewhere in the psalms.  The psalm are inspired by the Spirit, but utterly human.

Asaph’s insomnia is one of the manifestations of his desperation.   He attributes his sleeplessness to God, even accusing God of keeping his eyelids open.  What does this mean?  What has God done?  It is rather what He has not done.  He does not appear to have answered Asaph’s cry for mercy on behalf of his people.  We don’t know specifically the context, but most likely it has to do with deliverance from earthly enemies.  Things are not good for the people of God, and it doesn’t appear as though God is doing anything about it.  And so Asaph is in distress, unable even to sleep.

I can identify with the frustration.  Yes, I know all the correct theological explanations and biblical references that teach us not to put God on our timetable, and not to shutter Him in a box of our expectations regarding answers to our prayers. I have taught this, and I have preached it. And yet I still struggle with the apparent slowness of His answer to some of my prayers.   The hardest ones are the prayers for healing for family and friends. Does it keep me up at night?  Sometimes yes.

Yes, we’ll go on to the rest of the psalm tomorrow, but these words today lead me into prayer for those who can especially relate to Asaph’s distress.  I’m praying for those who are feeling discouraged in their prayer life, that God bless them with hope and faith.  I’m also praying for those I know who suffer from insomnia, that God would grant them peace, healing, and blessed sleep.

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