Where Is God When It Hurts? Finding Hope in the Depths of Suffering
Have you ever found yourself in the midst of intense pain, crying out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” If so, you’re not alone. This heart-wrenching question has echoed through the ages, from the lips of ancient kings to the very Son of God Himself.
Psalm 22 offers us a profound journey through the mystery of suffering, the power of hope-filled prayer, and the ultimate triumph of praise. It’s a psalm that resonates deeply with anyone who has experienced the anguish of feeling abandoned by God, yet it also points us toward a greater truth that can sustain us in our darkest hours.
The Mystery of Suffering
Suffering is indeed mysterious, especially when we face critical illness, lose a loved one, or are betrayed by those we trusted. The psalmist begins by expressing the darkest aspect of his suffering – the sense of being forsaken by God. This feeling creates a stark contradiction between what we believe about God and what we’re experiencing in the moment.
The psalm vividly describes the experience of suffering:
- Feeling forsaken – as if God and others have left us alone
- Feeling isolated – God seems so far away
- Feeling unanswered – our prayers seem to fall on deaf ears
- Feeling profound grief – crying day and night
- Feeling restless – unable to find peace
Yet even in the depths of despair, the psalmist clings to what he knows to be true about God: “Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.” (Psalm 22:3) This tension between felt experience and theological truth is at the heart of the mystery of suffering.
The psalmist goes on to describe his current reality in vivid detail. He feels small and vulnerable, “like a worm,” surrounded by enemies who mock and insult him. In his pain, every problem appears magnified:
“Many bulls encompass me; strong bulls of Bashan surround me; they open wide their mouths at me, like a ravening and roaring lion.” (Psalm 22:12-13)
Have you been there? When the pain is so intense that you feel completely drained, your body aching, your spirit crushed? The psalmist captures this feeling powerfully: “I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted within my breast.” (Psalm 22:14)
It’s in this raw, honest depiction of suffering that we find comfort. We are not alone in our pain. Others have walked this path before us, including Jesus Christ Himself, who quoted this very psalm from the cross.
The Prayer of Hope
In the midst of his anguish, the psalmist turns to prayer. This is not a prayer of resignation, but a bold cry of hope. He asks for two things:
- To experience nearness and intimacy with God
- Deliverance from his enemies
“But you, O LORD, do not be far off! O you my help, come quickly to my aid!” (Psalm 22:19)
This prayer reminds us that even when we feel forsaken, we can still turn to God. We can bring our fears, our pain, and our desperation before Him. The very act of prayer is an expression of hope – hope that God hears, that He cares, and that He will act.
The Praise of Deliverance
The final section of the psalm takes a dramatic turn. The tone shifts from lament to praise, from desperation to celebration. The psalmist declares:
“I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will praise you.” (Psalm 22:22)
This praise is not just personal; it extends to all people, even to future generations:
“All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you.” (Psalm 22:27)
This progression from suffering to praise offers us a powerful model for our own spiritual journeys. It reminds us that our current pain is not the end of the story. God is at work, even when we can’t see or feel it, and He is worthy of our trust and praise.
Finding Hope in Christ
For Christians, this psalm takes on even deeper significance when we consider how it foreshadows Christ’s suffering on the cross. Jesus, in His moment of greatest agony, quoted the opening line of this psalm: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46)
In that moment, Jesus fully identified with all human suffering. He experienced the mystery of feeling forsaken by God so that we would never have to be truly forsaken. His suffering and subsequent resurrection bring new meaning to this psalm:
- He was forsaken so we could be accepted
- He lost His Father so we could become children of God
- He was thirsty so we could be filled with living water
- He was lost so we could be found
Through Christ, the blessings of deliverance flow not just to one person or one nation, but to all who put their trust in Him.
Conclusion: From Suffering to Hope
As we reflect on Psalm 22, we’re invited to bring our own suffering before God. Whether you’re feeling forsaken, alone, grieving, or lost, know that you’re not alone. Others have walked this path, including Christ Himself.
But don’t stop at lament. Let your cries of pain become prayers of hope. Reach out to God, even when He feels distant. And look forward in faith to the day when your lament will turn to praise.
Remember, suffering is not the end of the story. In Christ, we have the promise of ultimate deliverance and the hope of a day when “All the prosperous of the earth eat and worship; before him shall bow all who go down to the dust, even the one who could not keep himself alive.” (Psalm 22:29)
May this ancient psalm bring you comfort in your pain, hope in your despair, and a renewed sense of God’s presence in your life. For in Christ, we are never truly forsaken, and our suffering is never without purpose or hope.