The Psalms.
Life is beautiful, yes, but it's also hard. You can't ignore that fact for very long and stay anywhere near emotionally healthy. But what do we do? What do we do with the questions, the frustrations, the guilt, the disappointment, and the incredibly joyful moments we experience? How do we navigate life together as God's people in God's world when it seems like things are broken. Not only things around us, but also things deep inside us.
We don't have all the answers, but we've seen the Psalms have some of the best guides possible for navigating life according to the gospel. These lyrics served as the songbook of God's people for generations and continue to resound with good news today. They highlight the mighty works of of God, but don't shy from the questions of our souls. They range from anthems of victory to emo-like anguish poems. They should not be overlooked, so we stop here each year to spend some time in these chapters.
Psalms 40, 63, and 131 are passages that wrestle with real questions for real life. They orient our hearts in worship while still allowing us to feel. Over the next three weeks we will dive into various psalms and linger in the presence of Jesus together there.
We hope to see you soon.
Missio Dei Mesa