People often come out of any camp experience excited and passionate about their faith. Unfortunately, many find themselves losing the “camp high,” and some can even find themselves in a dark place. So, the question must be asked: What do we do when we find ourselves in a place where we are questioning God? Are we even allowed to question God? Let’s take a look at Psalm 77 as we discuss this.
Psalm 77 is listed as a Psalm of Asaph. Scholars believe that these particular Psalms were either written by people within the guild of Asaph or part of a group that sang in the temple. These Psalms are a collection of songs that don’t necessarily connect together, but they have a common theme of lamenting unto the Lord as they examine the judgment of the Lord. Some of these deal with repentance for various things, such as being jealous of the supposed blessing that evil doers are walking in, to general laments for the sins that led to captivity.
Vs1-3
ASK: What kind of emotions is this psalmist expressing?
The psalmist is experiencing some sort of turmoil. He is seeking God and crying out to him, and he is experiencing deep internal pain.
It is important for us to remember that emotions happen. Being a Christian does not mean that we are free from dealing with hard things. The fact that the psalmist expresses this deep emotion shows us that we are able to do that. When we are hurting and suffering, it is okay to express those things to God. He is not afraid of our emotions.
V4-9
ASK: what is the psalmist expressing in this?
Here, we see the psalmist turning his pain toward the Lord but in an angry form. He is, in fact, blaming God for his turmoil. He is questioning God, wondering if God has failed or abandoned him. These are very real emotions that some people experience. Just because you have these emotions, does that mean that you are questioning God or that you’ve walked away from him? But it is a sign that you are seeking hope. God is not afraid of you being angry at him.
V10-15
ASK: How is this portion different from the previous portions?
ASK: What caused the change in tone in the psalmist?
A major change factor is that the psalmist stopped thinking about his current situation in the context of his pain and started thinking about who God was and how God has always been present, no matter what’s happening. Remembering what the Lord has done is how we begin the process of building our faith.
Tonight, for our students, we did something special. Post-camp, I asked our students to write a testimony about what God had done in their lives. I typed these out and sealed them in envelopes marked “In Event of Emergency.” The students were all instructed to store the envelopes in a safe place, and when they come across a season where they are struggling, they will have at least one testimony at hand to remind them of how God has moved and will move in their lives.
Adventures in Student Ministry 