A Pattern for Prayer in a Time of Struggle and Affliction

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Text:  Psalm 102

Psalm 102:2

Do not hide your face from me
    in the day of my distress!
Incline your ear to me;
    answer me speedily in the day when I call!

(ESV)

Technology has made our lives more convenient and in this time of isolation due to social distancing, has made it possible to connect with others.  While connecting through technology is beneficial during these challenging times, it will be great when we can connect face-to-face once again because we all need that physical connection to maintain our spiritual and mental health.  During the outbreak of the coronavirus, social distancing helped protect the physical health of people, especially those most vulnerable but the price of this physical distancing could be the mental and spiritual health of individuals.  To preserve the physical, mental, and spiritual health of individuals we must ensure social distancing and isolation do not become the new normal and instead something done to protect the physical health of individuals when threatened by some global virus and then returning to physical interaction when it is safe. 

The author of Psalm 102 is unknown with some believing it could be David and written after the rebellion of Absalom.  Others believe the author may be Daniel or Nehemiah and written during the time the Israelites were returning from exile.  Regardless of the author, the main theme of the Psalm is a prayer of one afflicted pouring out his complaint to the Lord.  Some of those reading this can relate to doing some complaining during this time.  However, we never imagined a time when the law forbids us from attending a sporting event, concert, or weekly church services.  Once again, we can thank the Lord for technology allowing us to still worship the Lord and hear teaching from the Bible via the internet and social media.  We never imagined not being able to go out to a restaurant with friends or family and enjoy a meal with eating out now relegated to a drive-thru or pick-up and limited to only those we live with.  Hospitals have canceled elective surgeries forcing individuals to live in pain and even placing some at risk who need procedures to restore a healthier life deemed non-life-threatening because they are still healthy, at least for the time being.  Okay enough complaining, let us take a moment to look at Psalm 102 for it contains a model of prayer for people afflicted as many are today

The Psalm 102 model parallels the model Jesus provided in the Lord's prayer (Matthew 6:9-13) and worthy of a comparative study.   These two models of prayer remind us that when praying we must,

1)      Reach out to God (Matthew 6:9-10; Psalm 102:1-2) – Desperation can accompany affliction and cause us to cry out to God in a complaining manner without us realizing who we are talking with.  It is natural when afflicted and desperate to immediately begin complaining and presenting our case to God.  However, these models of prayer remind us of the need to reach out to God and more importantly remembering who it is we are reaching out to.  Jesus teaches us to begin with calling on the Father in Heaven holding His name in high esteem, remembering the coming kingdom of God, and desiring God’s will be done (Matthew 6:9-10).  Similarly, the psalmist begins by asking the Lord to hear his prayer and not hide his face from him in his day of distress (Psalm 102:1-2).  Similarly, the psalmist acknowledges the eternal kingdom of God (Psalm 102:12) and the day when all the nations of the earth will fear the name of the Lord and fear His glory (Psalm 102:15).  While launching into lodging our complaints are natural, it is better to take a moment to meditate on the glorious future each believer in Christ has (Revelation 21:1-8).  This resets our perspective from one of desperation at our affliction to a perspective of the temporary nature of our afflictions and a glorious, bright, and eternal future.

2)      Presenting our case to the Lord (Matthew 6:11-12; Psalm 102:3-11) – From this godly perspective, we are now ready to present our case to the Lord.  The psalmist goes into great detail about his affliction which leads to some believing this is either a psalm of David during the time of Absalom’s rebellion or a psalm of the affliction of one in exile desiring deliverance (Psalm 102:3-11).  Jesus teaches us to pray for God to provide for our daily needs encouraging an attitude of daily dependence on God to provide what we need (Matthew 6:11).  This reminder is especially important at this time for many of us are sheltered in our homes, wondering if we will have a job, be able to retire or even be able to gather with others in worship, leading to complaining.  Instead, the model of the Lord’s prayer reminds us to depend on God to meet our daily needs just as he did for Israel in the wilderness (Nehemiah 9:18-21).  Jesus also stressed the importance of forgiveness and a repentant heart when praying (Matthew 6:11-12) for sin and unforgiveness in our hearts hinders our prayers (Mark 11:24-25). 

3)      Acknowledging God’s power in our affliction (Matthew 6:13; Psalm 102:12-28) – Our despair in times of struggle stems from our coming to grips with our inability to solve whatever is causing the struggle.  Most of us have no idea how to solve the problem of the coronavirus unless we happen to be a healthcare professional or researcher working on the problem but even they have no idea how to specifically solve the problem of this new strain of virus.  As we continue social-distancing from others and shelter in our homes, we can become impatient mentally and lose our spirit while protecting our physical health.  However, the Spirit of the Lord does not need to social distance and has the power to get us through this crisis for it is the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead (2 Corinthians 3:17; Romans 8:11).  God has the power to get us through this crisis. 

By gaining a Godly perspective, presenting our case to the Lord with repentant and forgiving hearts, and faith in the power of God to deliver us from any crisis, we can avoid despair in a time of affliction and struggle.  However, to gain a Godly perspective, one must ask Jesus into their hearts through professing a belief in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.  If you have not done this, please pray with me now,

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

We will get through this but not without moments of frustration and even despair.  I urge everyone reading this to stay safe and strong.  May God bless everyone reading this.