by Dr. Potter’s wonderful wife, Jennifer
“When I remember God, I moan; when I meditate, my spirit faints.
You hold my eyelids open; I am so troubled that I cannot speak.” (Ps. 77:3-4) (ESV)
Have you ever felt such overwhelming sorrow? More than likely, every one of us can identify with the Psalmist in these words of angst. At first, nothing seems to be able to overcome the Psalmists complete bewilderment. It is as if the speaker would like to turn toward God but doesn’t know if His God is safe enough. The psalmist is actually wondering if he can meditate upon his God.
Yet at the same time, the speaker knows that his only hope lies in remembering – remembering the deeds of his God. These deeds speak to the mighty power and steadfast nature of His God. Then, the psalmist practices some good self-talk.
“Then I said, ‘I will appeal to this, to the years of the right hand of the Most High”. (Ps. 77:10)
We then see that the Psalmist takes the time to make himself meditate upon the mighty deeds of His God. By the end of this prayer, the Psalmist no longer moans at the thought of his God but has remembered that His God wields great power for the deliverance of his people and even leads them like a flock conjuring up images of a shepherd warrior- powerful and personal.
When I am overcome to the point of being unable to meditate upon my God, I can look to this prayer to lead me out to the other side- recognizing that only in meditating upon my God will I find the peace I lack.
So, on the day when the lemons of life threaten to make meditating on your Lord impossible, go to this prayer in Psalm 77. It might just give you the boost that you need to see beyond the present by remembering the past.
Sanctuary Functional Medicine, under the direction of Dr Eric Potter, IFMCP MD, provides functional medicine services to Nashville, Middle Tennessee and beyond. We frequently treat patients from Kentucky, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, Ohio, Indiana, and more... offering the hope of healthier more abundant lives to those with chronic illness.