Push Through

(Psalm Study)

“My God, My God, why have you abandoned me?” (Ps. 22:1 NLT) (Mark 15:34)

Both David and Jesus felt abandoned by the Father during times of suffering.

“He has never let you down, never looked the other way—when you were being kicked around. He has never wandered off to do his own thing; he has been right there, listening.” (Ps. 22:24 MSG)

Why would a loving Father stand by and watch while you are being ‘kicked around’—why wouldn’t He intervene right away?

I have been struggling with these questions for decades.

What if we thought of God as playing the role of a midwife (Ps. 22:9 MSG) …waiting attentively by our side, while we pushed through from our carnal nature to our spiritual nature? Birthing always involves pain and struggle. Midwives observe, instruct, and comfort during the birthing process, but, unlike obstetricians, they are rarely invasive in their assistance. 

We might feel alone. Unfortunately, the struggle is unavoidable—it’s just part of the process of being born. But, as we push through, God remains nearby—attentive, caring, encouraging, and understanding. And when we finally make our way to the other side, God is waiting eagerly to receive us.