Finding Light and Hope in Darkness Through Faith
Summary
Summary:
Today, we gather to explore how God brings light into our darkness, whether it be the darkness of mental health struggles or the dreariness of winter. We celebrate the success of our recent meal-packing event, which brought together 71 volunteers to pack over 9,000 meals for those in need. Our focus today is on Psalm 40:1-11, which speaks to the steadfast love and faithfulness of God. This Psalm reminds us that even in our darkest moments, God hears our cries and lifts us from despair, setting our feet on solid ground.
Many of us carry grief, whether from the loss of loved ones, broken relationships, or unfulfilled dreams. The Psalms serve as a playlist of faith, capturing the full range of human emotions from despair to joy. They remind us that we are not alone in our struggles; God and others have walked similar paths. My personal journey with the Psalms deepened when I saw my adopted son moved to tears by their words, realizing that God knows and understands our feelings.
Different Bible translations can help us connect with the Psalms' emotions. For me, "The Message" translation resonates deeply. I encourage you to find a version that speaks to you. Music, like the Psalms, can be a powerful tool for emotional expression and healing. It can mirror our feelings or lift us from darkness. I urge you to create a playlist of uplifting music that helps you connect with God and find hope.
Our church has started a playlist called the "Suamico Positive Upbeat Uplift Something 2025" on our website, featuring songs that bring joy and hope. I invite you to contribute to this playlist and explore music that uplifts your spirit. Let us turn down the negative messages in our minds and open our hearts to God's promises, sharing His steadfast love and faithfulness with the world.
Key Takeaways:
1. God's Steadfast Love in Darkness: Psalm 40 reminds us that God hears our cries and lifts us from despair, setting our feet on solid ground. In our darkest moments, we can trust in God's unwavering love and faithfulness to guide us through. [04:30]
2. The Psalms as a Playlist of Faith: The Psalms capture the full range of human emotions, from despair to joy, serving as a reminder that we are not alone in our struggles. They offer a way to connect with God and find solace in shared experiences. [09:06]
3. Finding the Right Translation: Different Bible translations can help us connect with the emotions of the Psalms. Finding a version that resonates with us can deepen our understanding and connection to God's word. [11:03]
4. Music as a Tool for Healing: Music, like the Psalms, can mirror our emotions or lift us from darkness. Creating a playlist of uplifting music can help us connect with God and find hope in challenging times. [14:19]
5. Building a Community Playlist: Our church's "Suamico Positive Upbeat Uplift Something 2025" playlist is a collective effort to share songs that bring joy and hope. Contributing to and exploring this playlist can help us turn down negative messages and embrace God's promises. [15:49]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[04:30] - Reading from Psalm 40
[05:13] - God's Wondrous Deeds
[06:03] - Personal Reflections on Grief
[09:06] - The Psalms as Emotional Expression
[11:03] - Finding the Right Bible Translation
[14:19] - Music's Power to Heal
[15:49] - Creating a Positive Playlist
[17:00] - Invitation to Contribute to the Playlist
[18:30] - Embracing God's Promises
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Psalm 40:1-11
Observation Questions:
1. What does Psalm 40:1-11 reveal about God's response to those who cry out to Him in times of despair? [04:30]
2. How does the sermon describe the role of the Psalms in expressing a range of human emotions? [09:06]
3. What personal story did the pastor share about the impact of the Psalms on her adopted son? [09:06]
4. How did the meal-packing event serve as a celebration of community and service? [04:30]
Interpretation Questions:
1. In what ways does Psalm 40 illustrate God's steadfast love and faithfulness during difficult times? [04:30]
2. How can different Bible translations affect our understanding and emotional connection to the Psalms? [11:03]
3. What is the significance of music as a tool for emotional healing and spiritual connection, as discussed in the sermon? [14:19]
4. How does the creation of a community playlist reflect the church's mission to spread joy and hope? [15:49]
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you felt like you were in a "desolate pit." How did you experience God's steadfast love during that time? [04:30]
2. The pastor shared a personal story about her son connecting with the Psalms. Have you ever had a similar experience with a Bible passage? How did it impact you? [09:06]
3. Consider the Bible translation you currently use. Does it resonate with you emotionally? If not, what steps can you take to find one that does? [11:03]
4. Music can be a powerful tool for healing. What songs or types of music help lift your spirits and connect you with God? [14:19]
5. The church has started a "Suamico Positive Upbeat Uplift Something 2025" playlist. What song would you contribute to this playlist, and why? [15:49]
6. How can you incorporate more positive and uplifting messages into your daily life to counteract negativity? [15:49]
7. Think about a person in your life who might be struggling with grief or despair. How can you offer them support and share God's steadfast love this week? [06:03]
Devotional
Day 1: Trusting in God's Steadfast Love
In times of darkness, whether due to personal struggles or external circumstances, it is crucial to remember that God hears our cries and lifts us from despair. Psalm 40:1-11 serves as a powerful reminder of God's unwavering love and faithfulness. This passage assures us that even in our darkest moments, God is present, ready to set our feet on solid ground. By trusting in His steadfast love, we can find hope and guidance through life's challenges. [04:30]
Psalm 40:1-3 (ESV): "I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure."
Reflection: Think of a recent moment of despair in your life. How can you actively trust in God's steadfast love to guide you through it today?
Day 2: The Psalms as a Mirror of Our Emotions
The Psalms capture the full spectrum of human emotions, from despair to joy, and serve as a reminder that we are not alone in our struggles. They offer a way to connect with God and find solace in shared experiences. By engaging with the Psalms, we can see our own emotions reflected and find comfort in knowing that others, including God, have walked similar paths. This connection can be a source of strength and encouragement in our faith journey. [09:06]
Psalm 42:5 (ESV): "Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation."
Reflection: Identify a Psalm that resonates with your current emotional state. How can this Psalm help you connect with God and find solace today?
Day 3: Finding the Right Translation for Deeper Connection
Different Bible translations can help us connect with the emotions of the Psalms in unique ways. Finding a version that resonates with us can deepen our understanding and connection to God's word. By exploring various translations, we can discover new insights and perspectives that enrich our spiritual journey. This process can lead to a more profound appreciation of the Psalms and their ability to speak to our hearts. [11:03]
Psalm 119:130 (ESV): "The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple."
Reflection: Explore a different Bible translation today. How does this new perspective deepen your understanding and connection to a specific Psalm?
Day 4: Music as a Pathway to Healing
Music, like the Psalms, can mirror our emotions or lift us from darkness. Creating a playlist of uplifting music can help us connect with God and find hope in challenging times. Music has the power to heal and transform our emotional state, providing comfort and encouragement. By intentionally choosing songs that uplift our spirits, we can create an environment that fosters spiritual growth and healing. [14:19]
Colossians 3:16 (ESV): "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God."
Reflection: Create a playlist of songs that uplift your spirit. How can this music help you connect with God and find hope today?
Day 5: Building a Community of Joy and Hope
Our church's "Suamico Positive Upbeat Uplift Something 2025" playlist is a collective effort to share songs that bring joy and hope. By contributing to and exploring this playlist, we can turn down negative messages and embrace God's promises. This communal project encourages us to support one another in our faith journey and to share the joy and hope we find in God with others. Together, we can create a community that reflects God's love and faithfulness. [15:49]
Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV): "And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."
Reflection: Contribute a song to the community playlist. How can sharing this song help others find joy and hope in their faith journey?
Quotes
God put a new song in my mouth. A song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Sovereign One. Happy are those who make the Sovereign their trust. Who do not turn to the proud. To those who go astray after false gods. [00:04:36] (19 seconds)
I have told the glad news of deliverance in the great congregation. See, I have not restrained my lips, as you know, O Sovereign. I have not hidden your saving help within my heart. I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation. I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness from the great congregation. [00:05:27] (23 seconds)
Some of us have loved ones who are struggling with strokes and heart attacks with cancer with dementia some of us have bad knees and hips and shoulders and we just can't do the things that we want to do anymore but some of us the future has changed because our relationships changed sometimes we have broken relationships and we don't have the the time together with children and grandchildren with siblings with spouses with friends with co-workers because our relationships are broken. [00:06:20] (34 seconds)
The Psalms are a place where our emotions have been collected together. There are Psalms of fear, of despair, of sadness, of grief, but there are also Psalms of joy and celebration, Psalms of worship and praise. I encourage you to read through the Psalms with a pencil or pen and actually write in at the top. [00:08:43] (23 seconds)
Someone else has felt this. God knows this feeling. God hears what I am saying. Our psalm today reminds us that God always gives us an open ear to hear what it is that we are going through. [00:09:18] (17 seconds)
God knows, the psalmist knows, you are not alone. Other people have gone through what you are going through. There are other people that are willing to stand with you, to listen to you, to hold your hand, to give you a hug, to support you. God has given us God's steadfast love and God has given us companions in life to stand with us. In joy and in sorrow. [00:10:36] (27 seconds)
For me, the translation called the message is the one that is easiest for me to connect with the emotion. motions of the psalms so i encourage you if you have a translation of the bible and it's not really working for you when you're reading through the psalms try another translation if you go to biblegateway .com you can go to like psalm 23 and you can read it in i don't know 20 30 40 different translations until you find the translation that connects for you. [00:11:23] (28 seconds)
Music also has the ability to lift us up and help us rise above the darkness that we are in. So I want you to listen to what we are feeling. When my kids were in middle school, there were times that they were really struggling with all sorts of feelings, all at the same time. And I think most of us, as we went through adolescence, had times where we were feeling everything all at once, everywhere. [00:14:41] (27 seconds)
All the happy songs that I could find. And we would get in the car and I would just turn on that playlist without saying anything. And you know what? The kids got happier as we were driving in the car, listening to happy music. It helped draw them out of some of the places where they were struggling. [00:15:30] (18 seconds)
There is an app, a website called Spotify. Some of us use it already. And it's like the biggest jukebox of humanity. It's got just about every song in the universe that we know of on there. So on our website, if you go to the homepage, suamacoumc .org, and you scroll down where it says current worship series, there's a little box and it has a white arrow. And if you click on that arrow, it is a free player. [00:16:21] (26 seconds)
So please send me your ideas and we will add them to the playlist. I guarantee none of us are going to like every song in this playlist. That's the way it is. So I'm going to give you a little minute here to listen. And there we go. This is our gift to you. If you want, make your own playlist. Maybe you've got a favorite radio station, a favorite CD or record that you enjoy playing. But turn to the music that lifts you up. [00:17:38] (28 seconds)
