Groaning With God
Audio Recording
Sermon Outline
Speaker: Rev. Scott Strickman
Sermon Series: Psalm 77 - With God in the Dark
Psalm 77 (ESV)
To the choirmaster: according to Jeduthun. A Psalm of Asaph.
1 I cry aloud to God,
aloud to God, and he will hear me.
2 In the day of my trouble I seek the Lord;
in the night my hand is stretched out without wearying;
my soul refuses to be comforted.
3 When I remember God, I moan;
when I meditate, my spirit faints. Selah
4 You hold my eyelids open;
I am so troubled that I cannot speak.
5 I consider the days of old,
the years long ago.
6 I said, “Let me remember my song in the night;
let me meditate in my heart.”
Then my spirit made a diligent search:
7 “Will the Lord spurn forever,
and never again be favorable?
8 Has his steadfast love forever ceased?
Are his promises at an end for all time?
9 Has God forgotten to be gracious?
Has he in anger shut up his compassion?” Selah
10 Then I said, “I will appeal to this,
to the years of the right hand of the Most High.
11 I will remember the deeds of the Lord;
yes, I will remember your wonders of old.
12 I will ponder all your work,
and meditate on your mighty deeds.
13 Your way, O God, is holy.
What god is great like our God?
14 You are the God who works wonders;
you have made known your might among the peoples.
15 You with your arm redeemed your people,
the children of Jacob and Joseph. Selah
16 When the waters saw you, O God,
when the waters saw you, they were afraid;
indeed, the deep trembled.
17 The clouds poured out water;
the skies gave forth thunder;
your arrows flashed on every side.
18 The crash of your thunder was in the whirlwind;
your lightnings lighted up the world;
the earth trembled and shook.
19 Your way was through the sea,
your path through the great waters;
yet your footprints were unseen.
20 You led your people like a flock
by the hand of Moses and Aaron.
Sermon Outline
There will be difficult stretches on the path of following Jesus where you will need to seek God while having the impression God is not with you.
1. Staying With God
v1 “I cry aloud to God… he will hear me”
2. Painful Remembering
v3 “When I remember God, I moan…”
3. Seeking Comfort In God
v2 “In the day of my trouble I seek the Lord… my soul refuses to be comforted”
Prayer of Confession
We cry aloud to you, O God. Help us! We are weak and weary. We admit our unsteady faith, and the guilt of our sin. We give up too quickly. We are too desperate for comfort. In our confusion, we assume the worst of you. Forgive every sin in every area of our lives. Thank you for Jesus, who entered our misery, yet without sin. We appeal to you in his name, who made provision for our forgiveness, and through his suffering reconciled us. We remember you and we humbly acknowledge your mercy. Amen.
Questions for Reflection
Do you ever have the sense that God is with you? What is that experience like? Is it sufficient for strength and encouragement to keep going in most circumstances?
What questions arise in your mind regarding God when you are suffering? What are your fears? What makes you angry? What do you stay confused about?
What does it look like to “walk with God”? In daily life, what is it like to navigate decisions with the intention to go through life with God?
What does it look like to walk with God when you are of the impression God is not with/for you? How do you navigate that? What temptations do you need to be watchful for?
What are appropriate things to do when you feel you need God but aren’t discerning God is present or helping you? What can you do with your anger? With your fear? With your confusion? In particular, what are ways to bring these things to God or work them out with God?
Should you keep attending church or stay engaged in Christian community during these periods? What should you do if contact with the church feels alienating or painful?
Why do we have to be careful about where we go for comfort?
How does the suffering of Jesus help sufferers? What truth does the gospel convey to help you seek and rest in God during confusing periods where you don’t have the sense God is with you?