Written by the Rev. Catherine Craley SYI '00 / '07, pastor of Round Rock Presbyterian Church,  and brought to you by the Miller Summer Youth Institute at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary

Scripture

Psalm 43

1   Vindicate me, O God, and defend my cause
           against an ungodly people;
      from those who are deceitful and unjust
           deliver me!
2   For you are the God in whom I take refuge;
           why have you cast me off?
      Why must I walk about mournfully
           because of the oppression of the enemy?

3   O send out your light and your truth;
           let them lead me;
      let them bring me to your holy hill
           and to your dwelling.
4   Then I will go to the altar of God,
           to God my exceeding joy;
      and I will praise you with the harp,
           O God, my God.

5   Why are you cast down, O my soul,
           and why are you disquieted within me?
      Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
           my help and my God.

Devotional

Is it wrong that as a pastor, I find great comfort in psalms like Psalm 43?After a long week that makes me feel like I work for the complaints department rather than for Jesus Christ, reading Psalm 43 is a balm to my soul. Whether we are leaders or members of a Christian community, as much as we love those we serve with, there are days when “vindicate me O God” and “deliver me from these people” are the words that ring truest in our hearts. It is on those days, that we can rant along with the Psalmist saying: “Lord, get your light and truth down here and lead me out of this gloomy state! Express-lane-me into your presence!” For we know that it is only at the altar of the Lord that the exceeding joy of Christ can be found, even in the midst of our frustrations.

Prayer

Lord, today the people you have asked me to love are getting me down. Send me your light and your truth. Lead me to higher ground. Amen.

Written by the Rev. Catherine Craley SYI '00 / '07, pastor of Round Rock Presbyterian Church,  and brought to you by the Miller Summer Youth Institute at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary

Scripture

Psalm 43

1   Vindicate me, O God, and defend my cause
           against an ungodly people;
      from those who are deceitful and unjust
           deliver me!
2   For you are the God in whom I take refuge;
           why have you cast me off?
      Why must I walk about mournfully
           because of the oppression of the enemy?

3   O send out your light and your truth;
           let them lead me;
      let them bring me to your holy hill
           and to your dwelling.
4   Then I will go to the altar of God,
           to God my exceeding joy;
      and I will praise you with the harp,
           O God, my God.

5   Why are you cast down, O my soul,
           and why are you disquieted within me?
      Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
           my help and my God.

Devotional

Is it wrong that as a pastor, I find great comfort in psalms like Psalm 43?After a long week that makes me feel like I work for the complaints department rather than for Jesus Christ, reading Psalm 43 is a balm to my soul. Whether we are leaders or members of a Christian community, as much as we love those we serve with, there are days when “vindicate me O God” and “deliver me from these people” are the words that ring truest in our hearts. It is on those days, that we can rant along with the Psalmist saying: “Lord, get your light and truth down here and lead me out of this gloomy state! Express-lane-me into your presence!” For we know that it is only at the altar of the Lord that the exceeding joy of Christ can be found, even in the midst of our frustrations.

Prayer

Lord, today the people you have asked me to love are getting me down. Send me your light and your truth. Lead me to higher ground. Amen.