Psalm 44:9-16 “But now you rejected us, and brought us to dishonor, and don’t go out with our armies. You make us turn back from the adversary. Those who hate us take plunder for themselves. You have made us like sheep for food, and have scattered us amongst the nations. You sell your people for nothing, and have gained nothing from their sale. You make us a reproach to our neighbors, a scoffing and a derision to those who are around us. You make us a byword amongst the nations, a shaking of the head amongst the peoples. All day long my dishonor is before me, and shame covers my face, at the taunt of one who reproaches and verbally abuses, because of the enemy and the avenger.”

What a cry: “You used to help us. You used to protect us. Now you don’t. People hate us and make fun us. Why don’t you help us???”

Sometimes this type of cry is accompanied by a realization of sin. Sometimes not. But even when we understand why something is happening, we can still be in pain. We can still be in trouble. We can and should still cry out for help!

This is sometimes called “the dark night of the soul.” The time when you feel hopelessly abandoned by God. The time when you can’t feel His presence. What should you do? Even in the midst of despair – even if you brought it on yourself – even if you can’t feel God’s presence – you still cry out to Him for help. You plow through the doubt and pain. You keep going until you experience His presence again.

For additional worship: Lord From Sorrows Deep I Call (Psalm 42)