How To Pray When God Feels Silent

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish? My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, but I find no rest. Psalm 22:1–2

Your feelings don’t disqualify your faith.

Bring God your best praise and your honest prayers.

Feelings aren’t final.

Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One; you are the one Israel praises. In you our ancestors put their trust; they trusted and you delivered them. Psalm 22:3–4

To you they cried out and were saved; in you they trusted and were not put to shame. Psalm 22:5

But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by everyone, despised by the people. All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads. Psalm 22:6–7

“He trusts in the Lord,” they say, “let the Lord rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he delights in him.” Psalm 22:8

Yet you brought me out of the womb; you made me trust in you, even at my mother’s breast. Psalm 22:9

From birth I was cast on you; from my mother’s womb you have been my God. Psalm 22:10

Be honest about your circumstances and your Savior.

For the Lord is righteous, he loves justice; the upright will see his face. Psalm 11:7

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us. Galatians 3:13

Dogs surround me, a pack of villains encircles me; they pierce my hands and my feet. Psalm 22:16

All my bones are on display; people stare and gloat over me. They divide my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment. Psalm 22:17–18

For he has not despised or scorned the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help. Psalm 22:24

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Psalm 23:1–6

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