SUPPORTING SCRIPTURE

Psalm 55:6-8

Knowing how to get started reading the Bible can be tricky. But don’t get discouraged! No matter how far you’ve come in your faith, everyone has struggled with reading the Bible at some point. That’s why we put together some Scripture meditations like this one to help you get started.

 

Stuck in Sadness

So… you’ve had a bad week. 

Maybe a customer cussed you out. Maybe your friends are busy, and there’s no one to hang out with…again. Maybe the suffering and injustice on your city’s streets leave you with a heavy heart.

The world feels lonely and bitter sometimes. And when we’re stuck in that feeling, it’s easy to focus on getting unstuck. We find some fun distractions (helloo, internet!) and escape sadness…for a while.

No one likes to feel upset with no clear “fix.” Yet, the Bible makes a lot of space for those “sitting in sadness” vibes. 

Join us as we sit in one of those spaces in Psalms:

Psalm 55:6-8

6 I said, “Oh, that I had the wings of a dove!

I would fly away and be at rest.

7 I would flee far away 

and stay in the desert;

8 I would hurry to my place of shelter, 

far from the tempest and storm.”

Observations from the Text

  • Sometimes, life leaves us tired out (v. 6)
  • We don’t always want to stick around and resolve issues (v. 7)
  • In a distressing situation, we often want to escape (v. 8)
  • God hears us and strengthens us when we feel this way (see v. 22)

Prayers of Response

God, my shelter, thank you for sitting with me in ________.

Lord, you see how upset I am about ________. I feel like I can’t deal with it anymore.

Prayer Requests

Nurturing God, please direct me as I face ________ yet again.

Jesus, I have no idea how to fix ________, but I know you can. In your perfect way, keep making all things new.

Prayers of Readiness

God who weeps with us, today I share my sadness with you. I don’t want to keep pretending it’s no big deal.

When I meet others who are feeling too overwhelmed by ________, give me words to tell them about your caring presence.

 

Reading the Bible through Scripture meditations can be an easy way of connecting with God each day. For more Scripture meditations, visit this page!

 

Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™