1st Sunday of Advent
R. To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.
Written by Matt Lewis
Psalm 25 is one of David’s many laments in the book of Psalms (fun fact: almost half, about 40%, of the psalms are laments). The sorrow on display in these verses express a deep yearning for the Lord, specifically for Him to make known his “paths,” or his plans, to those who “wait.”
Waiting is tough, especially when it comes to plans for the future. Most of us want to know what’s coming up in our future. We plan ahead. We create color-coded calendars filled with our appointments and meetings with as many details as we can figure out. We make to-do lists to fill the days that we don’t already have plans for.
I’ve often wondered if people back in the time of Jesus actually had as many things “to do” that filled their days as we have that fill ours. It’s no question that our modern day lifestyles are more all-consuming than any that have come before us, but have we put so much of that on ourselves? It’s hard to argue that if we didn’t, we’d struggle to keep up with our jobs, families, society in general… and probably find ourselves in a rough situation relatively. Yet, if you’re like me, you may find yourself tempted to either just “let go and let God”, or try to do everything on my own when all of these lists and plans become overwhelming (which seems more and more often the older I get).
Striking the balance between being responsible for our own lives and trusting in God’s plans for us is a difficult challenge, but the second and third verses offer a key to unlocking that balance. When it comes to the “let go and let God” adage or the temptation to take on everything ourselves, humility and companionship are the context we need to remember. We cannot simply say “oh well, God will take care of this” when we encounter a demanding or difficult task or situation; we cannot simply give in and hope things will magically get better. On the other hand, we cannot and should not take on so much ourselves that it becomes unhealthy for us (and the people around us); we cannot do everything on our own. Instead, we should frame these instances with a sense of accompanied duty: “this circumstance is difficult, I cannot get through it on my own; but I know I’m not alone in it and that God is with me, and He has placed me here with and for a purpose.”
More simply put: there is work to be done on our end of the exchange between human and divine. No, God doesn’t need us to do the hard work for him (how wonderful those miracles are when he does it all!), but it is necessary for us to do the hard work for ourselves. We have to be the ones who lift our souls to Him; to reach out for his help, in humble acknowledgment that we need him with us and we need his aid.
Are you acknowledging the work that is required of you to help you in your circumstances? Do you know what you have to do, but are just not ready (or willing) to do it yet? Can you identify God’s presence in your circumstance, even though it may not have all yet been worked out?
Matt Lewis is a worship leader, singer-songwriter, the Director of Publishing for NOVUM PUBLISHING, and project lead for Liturgy Resources. You can find his music on Spotify and Apple Music, follow him on Instagram, and find out more on his website.
Pray with this week’s psalm.