scripture and prayer reflection
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Lyrics
We were wandering in the desert
With our souls so starved and weak
We were hungry for a homeland
We did not know how to seek
But we lifted up our voices
To the only One who hears
And the God of mercy came
And brought us near
We were locked out of the garden
And our backs bent down with pain
In the shadow of death's darkness
We were slaves to sin and blame
Then we cried out in our labor
To the only One who hears
And the God of mercy
Wiped away our tears
Oh give thanks to the Lord
For His love endures forever
We were wandering and lost
And our Father brought us home
To a safe dwelling place
To a feast of joy and laughter
Oh give thanks to the Lord
For He is good
We were fools in our rebellion
With our hunger strike of pride
We were sick and growing closer
To the death we should have died
Then he heard of our condition
And he called us by our names
And the God of glory
Took away our shame
Oh give thanks to the Lord
For His love endures forever
We were wandering and lost
And our Father brought us home
To a safe dwelling place
To a feast of joy and laughter
Oh give thanks to the Lord
For He is good
We were far out on the ocean
Making wealth and chasing dreams
But the waves of great destruction
Brought us trembling to our knees
Then we cried like drunken sailors
To the only One who hears
And the God of comfort
Took away our tears
Oh give thanks to the Lord
For His love endures forever
We were wandering and lost
And our Father brought us home
To a safe dwelling place
To a feast of joy and laughter
Oh give thanks to the Lord
For He is good
Psalm 107:1-43
1 Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever!
2 Let the redeemed of the Lord say so,
whom he has redeemed from trouble
3 and gathered in from the lands,
from the east and from the west,
from the north and from the south.
4 Some wandered in desert wastes,
finding no way to a city to dwell in;
5 hungry and thirsty,
their soul fainted within them.
6 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress.
7 He led them by a straight way
till they reached a city to dwell in.
8 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,
for his wondrous works to the children of man!
9 For he satisfies the longing soul,
and the hungry soul he fills with good things.
10 Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death,
prisoners in affliction and in irons,
11 for they had rebelled against the words of God,
and spurned the counsel of the Most High.
12 So he bowed their hearts down with hard labor;
they fell down, with none to help.
13 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress.
14 He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death,
and burst their bonds apart.
15 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,
for his wondrous works to the children of man!
16 For he shatters the doors of bronze
and cuts in two the bars of iron.
17 Some were fools through their sinful ways,
and because of their iniquities suffered affliction;
18 they loathed any kind of food,
and they drew near to the gates of death.
19 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress.
20 He sent out his word and healed them,
and delivered them from their destruction.
21 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,
for his wondrous works to the children of man!
22 And let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving,
and tell of his deeds in songs of joy!
23 Some went down to the sea in ships,
doing business on the great waters;
24 they saw the deeds of the Lord,
his wondrous works in the deep.
25 For he commanded and raised the stormy wind,
which lifted up the waves of the sea.
26 They mounted up to heaven; they went down to the depths;
their courage melted away in their evil plight;
27 they reeled and staggered like drunken men
and were at their wits' end.
28 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress.
29 He made the storm be still,
and the waves of the sea were hushed.
30 Then they were glad that the waters were quiet,
and he brought them to their desired haven.
31 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,
for his wondrous works to the children of man!
32 Let them extol him in the congregation of the people,
and praise him in the assembly of the elders.
33 He turns rivers into a desert,
springs of water into thirsty ground,
34 a fruitful land into a salty waste,
because of the evil of its inhabitants.
35 He turns a desert into pools of water,
a parched land into springs of water.
36 And there he lets the hungry dwell,
and they establish a city to live in;
37 they sow fields and plant vineyards
and get a fruitful yield.
38 By his blessing they multiply greatly,
and he does not let their livestock diminish.
39 When they are diminished and brought low
through oppression, evil, and sorrow,
40 he pours contempt on princes
and makes them wander in trackless wastes;
41 but he raises up the needy out of affliction
and makes their families like flocks.
42 The upright see it and are glad,
and all wickedness shuts its mouth.
43 Whoever is wise, let him attend to these things;
let them consider the steadfast love of the Lord.
Reflection
I often don’t think to be thankful for something until I experience what it is like to not have it. Suddenly, when something I’ve taken to be a given of everyday life is called into question, I realize how terrifyingly easy it would be for it to be stripped away in a moment.
I can think of countless examples of this — the time I became insanely itchy for a week straight and was diagnosed with eczema, times when I’ve thrown out my back falling and landing funny at the climbing gym, a brief bout with debilitating vertigo that came out of the blue last year. Each of these times were frightening, and in my own overly-dramatic mind, I despairingly wondered, “Is this going to be my life now? I’ll just be itchy/in pain/dizzy/______. for the rest of my existence?”
Over-the-top as my reaction might feel looking back now, from a time when my body is functioning correctly, it was a terrifying prospect in the moment. I’d never realized how many small, daily tasks — as simple as opening a door or sitting at a table to eat — made use of back muscles until mine weren’t working right. I’d never even thought to be thankful that my inner ear had been doing its job for 30 years, until it suddenly wasn’t anymore and I was so dizzy that even lying down it felt like the room was spinning and spinning. So often, it’s not until we experience life without something that we realize how much we have to be thankful for on a daily basis. If and when we find that something restored to us, there is rejoicing, relief, and gratitude — a new appreciation for whatever it is as a blessing in our lives.
But as impacting as it would be if my eczema flared up all the time, or if the vertigo had never subsided, or if I had injured my back more seriously, these things pale in comparison with what my condition would be without Christ. Though these things are all good circumstantial fodder for thanksgiving and praise, reflecting on what God has done, continues to do, and will do for us — and spending time considering what the contrasting alternative would be — is even more foundational to growing gratitude in our lives, because it gets at a deeper reality.
The psalm that this song draws from is all about this. The psalmist writes short, vignette-like experiences of those who, though once far from God, have now been brought near. Because they have experienced life apart from Him, there is a stronger, more deeply rooted appreciation for life with Him. The contrast sparks thanksgiving.
The psalmist argues that the wise person takes time to think about God’s loving acts, in order to stir up gratitude in their own hearts. Though my life would be different if I was always itchy, or in pain, or dizzy, it would still be worthwhile and valuable. However, life apart from God is cut off from the very source of life — it’s empty and purposeless. In the ultimate sense, we don’t have anything if we don’t have God.
Take some time to reflect on your own life. When have you gone through circumstances that increased thanksgiving in your heart? What are circumstantial things in your life now that you can thank God for? If you have difficulty coming up with ideas, consider your physical needs, daily actions, relational connections, mental and physical health. Spend some time reflecting on what life would be like if God hadn’t decided you were worth bringing near. Consider how that would impact all of the circumstantial things listed above. Talk with Him about what comes up.
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