Focus 1 (of 4) | You just sighed. Are you OK?
|
Consider this ice breaker as you gather for the Spotlight.
What movie do you wish you could watch again for the first time?
What movie do you wish you could watch again for the first time?
See what this Spotlight—and series—is focused on.
Tap on the words "Focus 1" in the image below to read this Spotlight's summary.
Tap on the words "Focus 1" in the image below to read this Spotlight's summary.
Let's talk sighing.
Sighing takes place by reason of a condition of oppression under which man suffers and from which he longs to be free because it is not in accord with his nature, expectations, or hopes.
-Martin Luther
Throughout this Spotlight series, we’ll be exploring just that.
Sighing takes place by reason of a condition of oppression under which man suffers and from which he longs to be free because it is not in accord with his nature, expectations, or hopes.
-Martin Luther
Throughout this Spotlight series, we’ll be exploring just that.
/Rant
Sometimes, you just need to get something off your chest.
Sometimes, you just need to get something off your chest.
(“Get something off your chest” is an odd phrase, isn’t it? It refers to a cruel method of torture in which a person would have heavy weights or rocks piled on them until they gave up a piece of information, thus getting the rocks removed.)
It’s a pretty accurate description of what people feel right before they start what might be referred to as a rant. (If you’re doing this with a group, now is the time to share with the group the last time you found yourself on a rant. It’s OK—it happens to everyone!)
Ranting is common, and it’s evidence of two important things:
Neither of these are bad things. At the same time, all of us ranters can learn something from the phrase “get something of my chest”—you can’t do it alone. There needs to be someone who will listen.
People who know how to write computer code know that you signify the end of a piece of code with a forward slash ( / ). Those same people have been known to write </rant> when chatting on the internet to show both when they’re ranting and when they’re done.
It’s OK to be so frustrated you need to say something, but here’s the truth: if we want to end the frustration, we need someone who will listen. Being heard, knowing someone is listening, is the only thing that satisfyingly can end a person’s rant.
It’s a pretty accurate description of what people feel right before they start what might be referred to as a rant. (If you’re doing this with a group, now is the time to share with the group the last time you found yourself on a rant. It’s OK—it happens to everyone!)
Ranting is common, and it’s evidence of two important things:
- People have feelings.
- People need to share their feelings.
Neither of these are bad things. At the same time, all of us ranters can learn something from the phrase “get something of my chest”—you can’t do it alone. There needs to be someone who will listen.
People who know how to write computer code know that you signify the end of a piece of code with a forward slash ( / ). Those same people have been known to write </rant> when chatting on the internet to show both when they’re ranting and when they’re done.
It’s OK to be so frustrated you need to say something, but here’s the truth: if we want to end the frustration, we need someone who will listen. Being heard, knowing someone is listening, is the only thing that satisfyingly can end a person’s rant.
This Spotlight is about the frustrations we all feel the need to share, and about the God who wants to hear them. It’s for everyone who has heaved a sigh, and for the God sighs with them.
Start working through this by focusing on Psalm 102.
It starts like this:
Hear my prayer, Lord;
let my cry for help come to you.
Do not hide your face from me
when I am in distress.
Turn your ear to me;
when I call, answer me quickly.
Psalm 102:1–2
Psalm 102 is the song of every frustrated person, and it’s a song that continues to be sung today. Take, for example, the song Hospice by Drew Miller.
This song is a prayer to God that comes from a soul full of frustration, pain and doubt. (A prayer many Christians have prayed.)
It starts like this:
Hear my prayer, Lord;
let my cry for help come to you.
Do not hide your face from me
when I am in distress.
Turn your ear to me;
when I call, answer me quickly.
Psalm 102:1–2
Psalm 102 is the song of every frustrated person, and it’s a song that continues to be sung today. Take, for example, the song Hospice by Drew Miller.
This song is a prayer to God that comes from a soul full of frustration, pain and doubt. (A prayer many Christians have prayed.)
Lyrics from Hospice by Drew Miller
Some days this place feels like a hospice
Easing the slow pain of death
We speak of life restored as a promise
But lately I’ve stopped holding my breath
You’re hot and you’re cold
I shouldn’t have to hold you to your word
Are you leading us on with centuries of songs
And dreams deferred?
I won’t let you go until you bless me
Until I hear you speak my new name
I won’t let you go until I know this world won’t always be this way
So break all my bones if you want to
Wrestle me until the dawn
But I won’t let you go until you show me what my hope is hanging on
Hanging on
You say there’s room for me at your table
But your chair remains empty at mine
Now I don’t mean to be ungrateful,
But how could I have misread your signs?
I don’t know where I stand
You let me see the promised land, but you won’t let me in
You give us a taste, then let us lay waste
To your grace
Some days this place feels like a hospice
Easing the slow pain of death
We speak of life restored as a promise
But lately I’ve stopped holding my breath
You’re hot and you’re cold
I shouldn’t have to hold you to your word
Are you leading us on with centuries of songs
And dreams deferred?
I won’t let you go until you bless me
Until I hear you speak my new name
I won’t let you go until I know this world won’t always be this way
So break all my bones if you want to
Wrestle me until the dawn
But I won’t let you go until you show me what my hope is hanging on
Hanging on
You say there’s room for me at your table
But your chair remains empty at mine
Now I don’t mean to be ungrateful,
But how could I have misread your signs?
I don’t know where I stand
You let me see the promised land, but you won’t let me in
You give us a taste, then let us lay waste
To your grace
Welcome Perspective
Read through this—Psalm 102.
A prayer of an afflicted person who has grown weak and pours out a lament before the Lord.
Hear my prayer, Lord;
let my cry for help come to you.
Do not hide your face from me
when I am in distress.
Turn your ear to me;
when I call, answer me quickly.
For my days vanish like smoke;
my bones burn like glowing embers.
My heart is blighted and withered like grass;
I forget to eat my food.
In my distress I groan aloud
and am reduced to skin and bones.
I am like a desert owl,
like an owl among the ruins.
I lie awake; I have become
like a bird alone on a roof.
All day long my enemies taunt me;
those who rail against me use my name as a curse.
For I eat ashes as my food
and mingle my drink with tears
because of your great wrath,
for you have taken me up and thrown me aside.
My days are like the evening shadow;
I wither away like grass.
But you, Lord, sit enthroned forever;
your renown endures through all generations.
You will arise and have compassion on Zion,
for it is time to show favor to her;
the appointed time has come.
For her stones are dear to your servants;
her very dust moves them to pity.
The nations will fear the name of the Lord,
all the kings of the earth will revere your glory.
For the Lord will rebuild Zion
and appear in his glory.
He will respond to the prayer of the destitute;
he will not despise their plea.
Let this be written for a future generation,
that a people not yet created may praise the Lord:
“The Lord looked down from his sanctuary on high,
from heaven he viewed the earth,
to hear the groans of the prisoners
and release those condemned to death.”
So the name of the Lord will be declared in Zion
and his praise in Jerusalem
when the peoples and the kingdoms
assemble to worship the Lord.
In the course of my life he broke my strength;
he cut short my days.
So I said:
“Do not take me away, my God, in the midst of my days;
your years go on through all generations.
In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth,
and the heavens are the work of your hands.
They will perish, but you remain;
they will all wear out like a garment.
Like clothing you will change them
and they will be discarded.
But you remain the same,
and your years will never end.
The children of your servants will live in your presence;
their descendants will be established before you.”
A prayer of an afflicted person who has grown weak and pours out a lament before the Lord.
Hear my prayer, Lord;
let my cry for help come to you.
Do not hide your face from me
when I am in distress.
Turn your ear to me;
when I call, answer me quickly.
For my days vanish like smoke;
my bones burn like glowing embers.
My heart is blighted and withered like grass;
I forget to eat my food.
In my distress I groan aloud
and am reduced to skin and bones.
I am like a desert owl,
like an owl among the ruins.
I lie awake; I have become
like a bird alone on a roof.
All day long my enemies taunt me;
those who rail against me use my name as a curse.
For I eat ashes as my food
and mingle my drink with tears
because of your great wrath,
for you have taken me up and thrown me aside.
My days are like the evening shadow;
I wither away like grass.
But you, Lord, sit enthroned forever;
your renown endures through all generations.
You will arise and have compassion on Zion,
for it is time to show favor to her;
the appointed time has come.
For her stones are dear to your servants;
her very dust moves them to pity.
The nations will fear the name of the Lord,
all the kings of the earth will revere your glory.
For the Lord will rebuild Zion
and appear in his glory.
He will respond to the prayer of the destitute;
he will not despise their plea.
Let this be written for a future generation,
that a people not yet created may praise the Lord:
“The Lord looked down from his sanctuary on high,
from heaven he viewed the earth,
to hear the groans of the prisoners
and release those condemned to death.”
So the name of the Lord will be declared in Zion
and his praise in Jerusalem
when the peoples and the kingdoms
assemble to worship the Lord.
In the course of my life he broke my strength;
he cut short my days.
So I said:
“Do not take me away, my God, in the midst of my days;
your years go on through all generations.
In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth,
and the heavens are the work of your hands.
They will perish, but you remain;
they will all wear out like a garment.
Like clothing you will change them
and they will be discarded.
But you remain the same,
and your years will never end.
The children of your servants will live in your presence;
their descendants will be established before you.”
We cry out. We rant. We need help.
As the writer of Psalm 102 gets into it, great pain is described:
3 For my days vanish like smoke;
my bones burn like glowing embers.
4 My heart is blighted and withered like grass;
I forget to eat my food.
5 In my distress I groan aloud
and am reduced to skin and bones.
6 I am like a desert owl,
like an owl among the ruins.
7 I lie awake; I have become
like a bird alone on a roof.
8 All day long my enemies taunt me;
those who rail against me use my name as a curse.
9 For I eat ashes as my food
and mingle my drink with tears
10 because of your great wrath,
for you have taken me up and thrown me aside.
11 My days are like the evening shadow;
I wither away like grass.
These words are poetic and worth exploring. Each of the images in the gallery below corresponds to a word or phrase from those verses. Hover over the images in the gallery below to see which is which, and use the visuals to consider the verse from a new angle.
As the writer of Psalm 102 gets into it, great pain is described:
3 For my days vanish like smoke;
my bones burn like glowing embers.
4 My heart is blighted and withered like grass;
I forget to eat my food.
5 In my distress I groan aloud
and am reduced to skin and bones.
6 I am like a desert owl,
like an owl among the ruins.
7 I lie awake; I have become
like a bird alone on a roof.
8 All day long my enemies taunt me;
those who rail against me use my name as a curse.
9 For I eat ashes as my food
and mingle my drink with tears
10 because of your great wrath,
for you have taken me up and thrown me aside.
11 My days are like the evening shadow;
I wither away like grass.
These words are poetic and worth exploring. Each of the images in the gallery below corresponds to a word or phrase from those verses. Hover over the images in the gallery below to see which is which, and use the visuals to consider the verse from a new angle.
Discuss the following questions:
- Which metaphor from the above images can you relate to most?
- Which images didn’t speak to you—and what would you have chosen instead
See how God responds in compassion.
We, like the person who wrote Psalm 102, cry out in our pain. (We even rant.) God response with remarkable compassion.
Read what that looks like in Psalm 102:
12 But you, Lord, sit enthroned forever;
your renown endures through all generations.
13 You will arise and have compassion on Zion,
for it is time to show favor to her;
the appointed time has come.
14 For her stones are dear to your servants;
her very dust moves them to pity.
15 The nations will fear the name of the Lord,
all the kings of the earth will revere your glory.
16 For the Lord will rebuild Zion
and appear in his glory.
17 He will respond to the prayer of the destitute;
he will not despise their plea.
Watch this video as it explains that compassion further:
We, like the person who wrote Psalm 102, cry out in our pain. (We even rant.) God response with remarkable compassion.
Read what that looks like in Psalm 102:
12 But you, Lord, sit enthroned forever;
your renown endures through all generations.
13 You will arise and have compassion on Zion,
for it is time to show favor to her;
the appointed time has come.
14 For her stones are dear to your servants;
her very dust moves them to pity.
15 The nations will fear the name of the Lord,
all the kings of the earth will revere your glory.
16 For the Lord will rebuild Zion
and appear in his glory.
17 He will respond to the prayer of the destitute;
he will not despise their plea.
Watch this video as it explains that compassion further:
Let's respond to his compassion with praise.
18 Let this be written for a future generation,
that a people not yet created may praise the Lord:
19 “The Lord looked down from his sanctuary on high,
from heaven he viewed the earth,
20 to hear the groans of the prisoners
and release those condemned to death.”
21 So the name of the Lord will be declared in Zion
and his praise in Jerusalem
22 when the peoples and the kingdoms
assemble to worship the Lord.
This is a pattern that has always existed—from before Psalm 102 was written to today, when you cry out to God. We asked our worship coordinator, Drew, to find two songs that perfectly encapsulated vss. 18–22.
Worship with these songs—and enjoy!
18 Let this be written for a future generation,
that a people not yet created may praise the Lord:
19 “The Lord looked down from his sanctuary on high,
from heaven he viewed the earth,
20 to hear the groans of the prisoners
and release those condemned to death.”
21 So the name of the Lord will be declared in Zion
and his praise in Jerusalem
22 when the peoples and the kingdoms
assemble to worship the Lord.
This is a pattern that has always existed—from before Psalm 102 was written to today, when you cry out to God. We asked our worship coordinator, Drew, to find two songs that perfectly encapsulated vss. 18–22.
Worship with these songs—and enjoy!
Worship Perspective
The say "manners make the man"-but God's gentleness makes man matter.
The say "manners make the man"-but God's gentleness makes man matter.
Discover the key to Psalm 102.
In the course of my life he broke my strength;
he cut short my days.
he cut short my days.
Now, get ready to draw. (Don’t worry, you won’t be judged on your artistic abilities.)
Grab a two pieces of paper and a writing utensil. Why two pieces of paper? Well, you’re going to be drawing two things—you’re going to be drawing two different timelines. And then comparing them.
24 So I said:
“Do not take me away, my God, in the midst of my days;
your years go on through all generations.
25 In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth,
and the heavens are the work of your hands.
26 They will perish, but you remain;
they will all wear out like a garment.
Like clothing you will change them
and they will be discarded.
27 But you remain the same,
and your years will never end.
28 The children of your servants will live in your presence;
their descendants will be established before you.”
Go back to your timelines. Imagine that you have children. Add them to God’s timeline.
/rant
Grab a two pieces of paper and a writing utensil. Why two pieces of paper? Well, you’re going to be drawing two things—you’re going to be drawing two different timelines. And then comparing them.
- On the first piece of paper, draw two parallel lines of equal length. These will serve as separate timelines.
- The top timeline is “your timeline.” The bottom is “God’s timeline.” Label them.
- For your timeline, label the day of your birth with a dot at the beginning. Add an arrowhead (>) at the end of your timeline. (Quick discussion question: When does a person cease to exist?)
- For God’s timeline, you’ll need an arrowhead at the beginning (<) and at the end (>). Why?
- Obviously, at this point, we have a proportion problem. Your timeline shouldn’t be as long as God’s. Sorry. Grab that second piece of paper…
- This time, draw one short timeline for you, and one long timeline for God. Don’t forget the appropriate arrowheads.
- On your timeline, log 2 of the hardest moments you’ve ever gone through with points and labels.
- Now do the same for God. What are 2 of the “hardest” things God has gone through—the things that have caused him the most pain and frustration? (Discuss with your group.)
- Now add your lifetime so far to God’s timeline—all the years you’ve been alive. Try to accurately represent them in the context of God’s timeline.
24 So I said:
“Do not take me away, my God, in the midst of my days;
your years go on through all generations.
25 In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth,
and the heavens are the work of your hands.
26 They will perish, but you remain;
they will all wear out like a garment.
Like clothing you will change them
and they will be discarded.
27 But you remain the same,
and your years will never end.
28 The children of your servants will live in your presence;
their descendants will be established before you.”
Go back to your timelines. Imagine that you have children. Add them to God’s timeline.
- Then add their children, and theirs. And theirs. And theirs.
- The one constant, in all the pain points of all the people of all time, is God’s presence. His willingness to hear, listen, and respond. If this weren’t the God we loved, then nobody would ever start by saying: “Hear my prayer, Lord. Let my cry for help come to you.” But we do. Because we have a God who listens
/rant
Learn Perspective
Let’s learn how to listen—and apply it.
Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
Galatians 6:2
The Listening Post is a non-profit based in Anchorage, AK. They have a remarkable mission: to listen to those who want someone to hear them. The coordinate volunteers and train them to simply listen in love.
To get a sense for their work, take a look at the page linked to the button below. (If you’re in a group, everyone should report back their favorite point from the page and why they loved it.)
+ View the Page
Anyone can get involved with The Listening Post. Here’s their invitation:
If you are interested in re-engaging with the natural listener you already are, the Listening Post can help. Contact them for guidance in listening for your personal life or for your organization. Please consider making a donation to their organization in exchange for their guidance in listening (suggested donation for an individual: $50 for an hour session). Simply fill out the form toward the bottom of their web page and they will respond to you by email.
Thank you!
Whether or not you’d like to engage directly with The Listening Post, here’s a community service mission for each of us this week:
It can help. Really. Here’s proof…
Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
Galatians 6:2
The Listening Post is a non-profit based in Anchorage, AK. They have a remarkable mission: to listen to those who want someone to hear them. The coordinate volunteers and train them to simply listen in love.
To get a sense for their work, take a look at the page linked to the button below. (If you’re in a group, everyone should report back their favorite point from the page and why they loved it.)
+ View the Page
Anyone can get involved with The Listening Post. Here’s their invitation:
If you are interested in re-engaging with the natural listener you already are, the Listening Post can help. Contact them for guidance in listening for your personal life or for your organization. Please consider making a donation to their organization in exchange for their guidance in listening (suggested donation for an individual: $50 for an hour session). Simply fill out the form toward the bottom of their web page and they will respond to you by email.
Thank you!
Whether or not you’d like to engage directly with The Listening Post, here’s a community service mission for each of us this week:
- Listen to someone.
- Just listen.
- Don’t change their minds.
- Just help them feel heard.
It can help. Really. Here’s proof…
Feel free to submit a prayer request by filling out the below form.
(If you choose to make your request public, you'll see it display in the Current at the end of the Spotlight along with anyone else who did the same.)
(If you choose to make your request public, you'll see it display in the Current at the end of the Spotlight along with anyone else who did the same.)
Pray through your requests—together—as a group.
After submitting your requests in the above form, take some time to share with your group whatever requests the group might have for this week.
After submitting your requests in the above form, take some time to share with your group whatever requests the group might have for this week.
Serve Perspective
See that the dark was the night.
We’ll finish today with a song based on Psalm 102 by the band The War Within. Here’s how this song came about, from the band’s website:
John began writing this song while he was committed involuntarily at a psyche ward. God spoke to him in that unlikely place through the amazing words found in Psalm 102, within an old Bible buried in a dusty bookshelf.
We’ll finish today with a song based on Psalm 102 by the band The War Within. Here’s how this song came about, from the band’s website:
John began writing this song while he was committed involuntarily at a psyche ward. God spoke to him in that unlikely place through the amazing words found in Psalm 102, within an old Bible buried in a dusty bookshelf.
Lyrics from Dark Was the Night by The War Within
Hear my prayer, let my cry rise to you.
Draw me near as I call upon your name
Lord, my heart is blighted and withered
God, I seek you, I want to know you
I need You, I need You
My bones burn as I learn to follow
You will endure forever and ever
You are enthroned with every power
You spoke the light, and broke the shadow
I was condemned to death when you saved me
Dark was the night, you appeared in glory
Lord, have my life, Lord have my life
I lie awake, alone among the ruins
Held within the darkness of the night
All my hope burns away to ashes
But Your glory is appearing
You rebuild me, You rebuild me
So I will rise and worship You
You're the foundation
The heavens and the earth will fade
While You remain
Your years won't end, Lord
And we will be with You, in Your light
In Your presence
From age to age, let it be written
Those not yet made may declare He's risen
Oh praise the Lord, oh praise the Lord
Nations will know the Name of Jesus
Kings on the earth will revere His glory
Lord have it all, Lord have it all
Hear my prayer, let my cry rise to you.
Draw me near as I call upon your name
Lord, my heart is blighted and withered
God, I seek you, I want to know you
I need You, I need You
My bones burn as I learn to follow
You will endure forever and ever
You are enthroned with every power
You spoke the light, and broke the shadow
I was condemned to death when you saved me
Dark was the night, you appeared in glory
Lord, have my life, Lord have my life
I lie awake, alone among the ruins
Held within the darkness of the night
All my hope burns away to ashes
But Your glory is appearing
You rebuild me, You rebuild me
So I will rise and worship You
You're the foundation
The heavens and the earth will fade
While You remain
Your years won't end, Lord
And we will be with You, in Your light
In Your presence
From age to age, let it be written
Those not yet made may declare He's risen
Oh praise the Lord, oh praise the Lord
Nations will know the Name of Jesus
Kings on the earth will revere His glory
Lord have it all, Lord have it all
Sing along with (or listen to) this song to close out this Spotlight.
Feel free to sing along or simply listen. Do what makes you comfortable—but do whatever helps you focus on the song's meaning best.
Feel free to sing along or simply listen. Do what makes you comfortable—but do whatever helps you focus on the song's meaning best.
Farewell Perspective
Let's wrap things up by taking a look at what's Current at Illume.
Tap on the buttons in the frame below to see what’s currently happening at Illume—information on everything from current and upcoming online content to live events and opportunities to serve in the community can all be found here.
Tap on the buttons in the frame below to see what’s currently happening at Illume—information on everything from current and upcoming online content to live events and opportunities to serve in the community can all be found here.
Posted in On Letting Out a Sigh
No Comments