Last week we contemplated the lyrics of “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” this week we’ll contemplate the rich lyrics of Cowper’s “God Moves In A Mysterious Way.”
I’ve been working on a book during this time of COVID – 19, and He has not given me the direction all at once, but puzzles pieces a little at a time until after months I began to see the big picture. That is so like our mysterious God — just a little light for the next step.
One of the first puzzle pieces He impressed on me was that He cares very much about names. Take, for example, the little book of Ruth. Every single name fits into the story — even the nameless man who behaves dishonorably toward Ruth and Naomi. It takes my breath away at the mysterious sovereignty of God.
The very first name we are told is the name of Elimelech, Naomi’s husband. Elimelech means “my God is King,” and He certainly is, right down to the smallest detail of our lives. I pondered, for example, why would any parent give their sons names that mean “terminally sick” and “wasting away?” Yet that is the meaning behind the names of the sons of Naomi and Elimelech – a prophecy fulfilled when they died young after disobediently taking Moabite brides. “Ruth” means “beauty” or “feminine friend,” and she was all of that, accompanying her grieving and bitter mother-in-law all the way to Bethlehem. After losing her husband and sons, Naomi (meaning “sweet’) asked to be called “Mara” (bitter), but God uses Ruth to restore Naomi to her former sweetness. Ruth’s sister-in-law, Orpah (“stiff-necked or double-minded”) retreats from Naomi, returning to idol-worshipping Moab. (I also find it intriguing that Oprah Winfrey was named after Orpah, though her grandmother misspelled it.) Names and their meanings are often mysteriously significant in God’s big story. So I ponder — did God put those names in the hearts of the parents without their even knowing it? He must have!
I think about what I have been called all my life — either Dee Dee or Dee. One book of baby names says that name connotates insignificance, rather like Lewis Carroll’s Tweedledee and Tweedledum. I like that, for I am an insignificant little woman loved by a BIG AND AWESOME GOD!
Let’s ponder together God’s mysterious ways so that we can keep on choosing to trust.
Highlights from Last Week:
I love how you are appreciating the power of the lament!
I also love how you are taking the dare to pray boldly. Karman, a newcomer prayed:
Lord, like the author, I’m afraid to pray BOLDLY because it’s “safe” to pray generally. I won’t have a broken-heart (again) if I don’t fully (boldly) pray. . . but that shows my lack of faith and trust – even when You have shown me that You are faithful and You are trustworthy.
But perhaps most of all I loved your reflections on Bridge Over Troubled Water — and how many of you had a history with that song! Chris had it played at her wedding — rumblings of God’s sovereignty, knowing and caring about the tragedy that lay ahead for them.
Bing (Ernema) wasn’t sure how the line about “Silver Girl” fit and I told her that was almost my favorite — for though I am sinful and selfish, old and wrinkled, God looks at me and says, “You are beautiful, my love, there is no flaw in you.” (Song of Songs) I am one of His shimmering ones! And though one day I will sail out of the sight of my loved ones, I will not be gone — I will have arrived at the other side.
Sail on silver girl, sail on by…and if you need a friend, I’m sailing right behind.
Some of you brought fascinating bits of information on how it came to Paul Simon — inspired by gospel music. In one interview he said: “One minute I didn’t have the song — the next minute I did.” That surely sounds like God put it in his heart. Simon and Garfunkel, though they do not seem to know Him, fascinate me. How I’ve pondered the chorus to Mrs Robinson:
And here’s to you
Mrs. Robinson
Jesus loves you more than you will know
Woah woah woah
God bless you please
Mrs. Robinson
Heaven holds a place for those who pray
Hey hey hey, hey hey hey
God’s mysterious ways! The Song by Cowper is so rich — and meaningful when life is SO HARD. Here is one rendition — let the lyrics penetrate your heart:
Sunday:
- What stands out to you from the above and why?
- Read the beginning of Chapter 4: Choose To Trust in Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy. Meditate on the lyrics of Cowper’s Hymn: God Moves In A Mysterious Way. What stands out to you and why?
Monday: Choosing to Trust in the Hardest of Circumstances
Optional: Great message from Haddon Robinson on the above hymn. You can multitask and listen — but share if you do listen what stood out to you!
3. If you listened to the above, share something that stood out to you.
4. Read the next two sections: It’s Time To Choose and Trust=Active Patience and share the author’s main thoughts.
5. Read Psalm 13 and identify:
- The turn and complaint
- The question he asks
- The trust
6. Then read “Choosing To Trust” and “But God” and see how you did –and if you learned anything else.
Wednesday: Three Affirmations of Trust
7. Vroegop breaks Psalm 13:5-6 into three affirmations of trust. Find each one, and what he says about it.
A.
B.
C.
These keep us on keeping on. Take one that particularly resonates with you and do it here, either for a lament in your life or another person’s life.
Thursday: Varied Expressions
8. Finish the chapter, share your comments.
Friday: Lament for Prodigals
I am realizing it takes courage to sit on the chair on a blog — but I’m going to put it there again, if anyone wants support in praying for a prodigal child. Put your prayer in bold.
Saturday:9. Choose a reflection question or two and share a take-a-way.
175 comments
I sit in the chair for a grandson who put himself into treatment and is now free of his addiction to drugs, but still, not walking with you — and now such a hard time to even find a church in his new city. Please woo him back to you, help him not to make marriage decisions until he is back with you, and please keep him clean from drugs. I pray this in Jesus name.
Lord, I am thankful that Dee’s grandson realized his need to get help from his addiction. I pray that You would speak into his heart to realize that with You first place in his life that You can give him strength to live a clean life. Give Dee and his parents Your wisdom to know how to respond through his recovery so he can be successful. We trust You Lord to soften his heart and place the right friends that will draw him to You. In Your precious name, Amen.
Jesus, we lift Dee’s grandson before You. In this time of so much turmoil in our world, make it clear to him that You only can make sense of it. You only can keep him safe. You only have every answer he needs, looks for and longs for. Turn Him to You. There are so many good ministry helps for young people, like Steiger. Help him to stumble across one of them.
Dear Father,
Prayers for Dee’s grandson. Praise that he is set free from addiction, but Oh, how he needs to truly be set free by your Spirit. May he turn to you, giver of all good things, for what he truly needs, the way , the truth and the life. Thank you for intervening in his life and may he come with a heart of repentance. Praying in the name of Jesus
Father we join Dee in her cry for her grandson, we ask Lord that you would stir a hunger and thirst in his heart for you. That he would find no satisfaction in the world. Lord we ask that you would pursue him. That there would be reminders of you every where he turns. Lord would you draw other men around him who love you and who would find favor with him. Help Dee to navigate her relationship with him, knowing by your Spirit when to speak and when to be silent. We ask these things in the name of Jesus.
Lord, I come alongside Dee and pray for her grandson, free of addictions to drugs, praise God but still not walking with you. Provide a church for him, Lord where he can find godly men and women who will invest in this young man’s spiritual life. That he will turn to you wholeheartedly and wait on you for important decisions like marriage. May the siren call of drugs fade and be silenced. Help him replace his heart idols with you. Ravish him with your love, Lord that this world’s joys will be naught in comparison. Oh, Lord, I pray for all of us here who have prodigals. Have mercy on us and our loved ones.
I pray for your grandson with you Dee.
Dee, I did not know about your grandson and his struggle with addiction. That is such a hard, hard road to travel. Our neighbor’s daughter just returned home after being incarcerated for a time due to her struggle with drugs. And it touched my own family, too (my nephew). Now I know to pray for your grandson.
Lord what a praise to see that Dee’s grandson realized he needed help. Help him know see Lord that it was you that took the addiction away, that you helped him get to the point where he is at now. I ask that doors be open for him to find the church where you want him to be and for him to find you again. I pray these things in your Name, Amen
Take away…
It seems like I am now hearing and seeing lament everywhere. On Wednesday the 22nd, Ann Voskamp’s guest never used the word lament, but that is what she was doing. Maybe it is just the days we are living in, but I think you have to go out of your way to not lament!
So true, Mary.
Love your bible studies, Dee!
I love the book of Lamentations! Lamentations 3:21-23 is posted right by my computer and nearly every morning I look out my kitchen window at sunrise and thank God for another day of His faithfulness. My husband was a pastor and passed away 13 years ago. God has taken such great care of me I can’t thank Him enough. Looking forward to the study! Thanks so much!
I am eager to explore the book of Lamentations this week!
First time
Reflection question 5. What are some of the barriers that can stand in the way of trust?
The first barrier I think is discouragement. Our world is full of disappointment and these times are especially discouraging.
Probably another is not keeping God’s word in the forefront of our minds by our obsessions with other things. As soon as we take
our eyes off of our time with God in prayer and listening to his word, we lose faith.
Additionally self-sufficiency is a problem for many. We need to remember that we need our heavenly Father’s direction in all ways.
Not least of the barriers is the deceiver’s intervention who keeps us from turning our hearts to choose to trust, because it is a choice we need to make.
Wednesday:
7) A) I have trusted in Your steadfast love.
B) My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation
C) I will sing to the Lord, because He has dealt bountifully with me.
I have trusted in Your steadfast love: Lord, I will continue to take each step, going forward with life because I trust Your presence is with me – because of Your promise to me: “I will instruct you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you.” Psalm 32:8
Thursday:
8) While reading this chapter I feel I have received some long-awaited counsel from the Holy Spirit about where my trust in God has been too weak, too frail, too passive – emaciated and thin!
Friday:
9) Reflection Questions: 1) Their soul will remain emaciated and passive – stuck!
2) It is a framework which engages our suffering to work it through to unlock the steps to trust – to get
us unstuck and moving onto the path of trust.
3) Trust means getting past stuck. Confidence and renewal are markers of trust. Trust sounds confident
in the future because “I have trusted in Your steadfast love”. It does not look passive but is active.
4. Read the next two sections: It’s Time To Choose and Trust=Active Patience and share the author’s main thoughts. The author has so far talked of bringing our complaints to God, boldly asking for what we need, but the next part transition is important which is choosing to trust. Choosing to trust is not a one time thing but involves active patience, actively growing spiritually while waiting on God and trusting Him to care for us and answer our prayers.
5. Read Psalm 13 and identify:
The turn and complaint: How long Lord?
The question he asks: How long lord, Will you forget me, Will you hide your face, must I wrestle with my thoughts, have sorrow in my heart, will my enemy triumph over me,
The trust: I trust in your unfailing love, my heart rejoices in your salvation.
6. Then read “Choosing To Trust” and “But God” and see how you did –and if you learned anything else. For me its seeing the shift in but. I didn’t see that when I originally read Psalm 13.
8. Finish the chapter, share your comments
I guess because I was raised by a musician, I love music. I like the pastors thought that ending our lament prayer with an encouraging song that speaks of Gods mercy and hope (trust that He is in charge and has the situation under control) is a good way of ending if we don’t know exactly what to say. The first song that came to my mind was “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus.”
I liked his reminder to potentially just say, “Be still and know that I am God.”
I also liked the phrase he mentioned (which made me think of the man who had trouble believing in Jesus – “Lord help my unbelief”)… “Keep trusting the One who keeps you trusting.”
The chair:
Of course, you could always say a prayer for our Sarah.
Many of the sisters here know of our struggles with our daughter and how we came to be raising our grandkids. She is still quite a mess, albeit away from us (a good thing). My prayer is that she is reminded that she once knew God and can still know Him. I pray that she encounters someone in NYC who will help her know this. Thank you for any prayers.
Laura, thank you for the reminder to pray for Sarah. There are times when I pray for the women here, and then I will remember their different family situations with children, etc… I know that you have been a light in her life, pointing to truth. I will continue to pray for her.
Father we intercede on behalf of Sarah. Lord we believe that no one is outside of your reach. Please send people into her life to be reminders of your love and presence. Lord whatever she uses to fill her life we pray that it would be like gravel in her mouth, that she would find no pleasure or contentment in the things of this world. We ask that you would bring her to end of herself, and reveal your light and hope for her life. Thank you God that in this season, you have have protected her children in Laura’s care. We pray God for a day of beautiful redemption, not just for Sarah but someday for Sarah’s relationship with her children. God will you start the groundwork of forgiveness both in their hearts as well in Laura’s and her husbands lives. Lord would you bring healing and hope in the lives who have been affected by Sarah’s brokenness, only you know the pain of her loved ones. Please God meet them in the place of their sorrow and wounds. Make new what has been broken, restore what the enemy has stolen. In the name of Jesus.
Tammy Jo, thank you for such a lovely prayer! Beautiful redemption indeed!
Susan, I too pray for the ladies and then their children. Thank you for that!
Lord I lift up Sarah, I ask for your covering over her, protect her from herself Lord. It’s all to often we along with our kids think we can handle things ourselves. Bring her to her knees again Lord, bring her to the road that leads right back to you. Help her to feel your presence in her life so she knows you are still with her, but also that you need her to come back to you. I pray these things in your Name, Amen.
Yes Lord, please protect her from herself! I am trusting in the One who keeps me trusting. Amen.
Thank you everyone, for your prayers. I am very busy with toddlers everyday and also working teaching 2 online courses. I definitely am following along but I am slow at it all! I really appreciate these beautiful prayers since my mom is no longer on earth to do the heavy duty praying! Love and hugs to all of you! ♥️
Laura, I didn’t have time to post earlier today, but have been praying for you and for Sarah….
Thank you Mary.
7. Vroegop breaks Psalm 13:5-6 into three affirmations of trust. Find each one, and what he says about it.
A. I have trusted in your steadfast love. We all have a history of God’s faithfulness and love. Looking back and reminding ourselves of His love may carry us through the current suffering. B. My heart shall rejoice in your salvation. To wrap our pain, our sorrow, our suffering in the promises of God, the promises of redemption. This picture brings tears to my eyes. C. I will sing to the Lord, because He has dealt bountifully with me. Worship is the intended destination of lament.
Take one that particularly resonates with you and do it here, either for a lament in your life or another person’s life. Oh Father God, I turn my heart to you, seeking your face, seeking your wholeness. Father why does my life have to be one where I face the darkness of this life so often alone. Lord I was so grieved yesterday, to be amongst the partiers. Between the people who were sharing tragedy stories and then others at this party who were flashing and topless, I was so grieved. To be there with my husband and have him be drunk, I just felt so alone. You know Lord that it was my heart to speak of you to one of them, but I was side tracked by the lasciviousness. Oh Lord with conflict going on in my church circles and this experience yesterday, I am just so grieved. Lord I need you. I need your light.. I need your purpose. I need your sight. Please God refresh my spirit and remind me that you are at work even when all I see for an afternoon is darkness. I praise you God for it is true, this is not my home. You have plans and purposes that far exceed the experiences of this world. I am cocooned in the love and purposes of your kingdom. May you be my stronghold.
Oh Tammy Jo, how disturbing that you had to endure such an afternoon of debauchery! I’m so sorry. I love that you tried to share Jesus with someone. I bet you were a light to some person there and you don’t even know it. Jesus also spent time with those who were conducting inappropriate behavior. Mary Magdalene comes to mind! If you haven’t had a chance to watch “The Chosen” please check out the first few episodes where she is portrayed. It is really an amazing rendition to me. I will pray for you and your husband to reconnect. You really have a knack at praying lament “style!” Take care sweet sister. ♥️
Thank you Laura for your encouragement. I do really appreciate it.
8. Finish the chapter, share your comments. That thought of Keep trusting the one who keeps you trusting. That sometimes we have to depend on God for the very trust we need. Its not based on our strength but on Him making it possible.
9. How do you think complaint and request set the framework for trust? I think that Complaint opens up the door to your anger and hurt to the Lord and request places your hope and eyes on the Lord. Both building blocks to trusting the Lord. My take away is both the idea that God’s redemption can encompass even as we are in pain and that we can trust the one who provides trust .