Together in Christ: 'Reconnecting with God Who Gives Us Life' — Psalm 42:7-8

No matter how many good friends we have, we will face times when they are not around us, cannot cheer us, or cannot accompany us. We all will face death. While friends and family can comfort and encourage us as we die, they cannot accompany us through death. ^[1] We face death and judgment alone ^[2] unless we have built a solid relationship with the Lord, Who will never abandon us. ^[3] Each of us will likely also face moments when we feel very alone and find it hard to endure what feels like wave after wave of the pounding seas battering us with disappointment and discouragement - as the psalmists emphasize having endured their family disappointments and despair. ^[4]

In such times of desperation and emotional weariness, we need to find ways to break through the surging storm surrounding us and reconnect with the God who is our Abba Father, ^[5] our loving Shepherd, ^[6] YHWH, ^[7] El-Shaddai, ^[8] and Lord Sabbaoth. ^[9] More than names for God, these attributes of God remind us of His awesome power and constant nearness to His children He loves.

In such times of trouble, we may not have words to say or even faithful thoughts to think. However, we have songs we can sing that re-awaken our hearts to faith, ^[10] and we have the Holy Spirit to intercede for us when words are inadequate and we cannot verbalize the emotions within us. ^[11] As we reach out to reconnect with God, He rushes to meet us and pour His "unfailing love" upon us ^[12] and give us life! Let's use this knowledge to deepen our faith and strengthen our bond with our heavenly Father.