Ebb And Flow — A LifeWords Devotion

My heart is breaking as I remember how it used to be: I walked among the crowds of worshipers, leading a great procession to the house of God, singing for joy and giving thanks amid the sound of a great celebration! Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again— my saviour and my God! (NLT)

A favourite poem of mine is “Dover Beach”. It speaks of the ebbing and flowing of the tide on a shingle shore, and likens it to the ebb and flow of the poet’s faith. He remembers his own “sea of faith” which was once full and vibrant. Now he only hears the sea withdrawing from the shore.

Something like the Psalmist’s experience. He remembers a better time in the midst of his despondency. Such memories are bittersweet. They provide a window into a better situation: it was not always like this. Then again, such a memory of the good times can accentuate the sadness of the not so good times. Will it ever become good again?

One reason for the appeal of the Psalms is their realistic and honest approach to life and faith. None of this business of denying the troubles by trying to cover it all up with a manufactured cosmetic of praise. If faith has ebbed, so be it.

And yet, the Psalmist’s despondency does not lead to despair. He is not giving up. He will once more praise God as he grasps the fact that this God is greater than his immediate circumstances. He both admits the ebbing of his faith experience, and has confidence that the tide will come back in.

In short, we face our feelings, our memories of better times. And we also face the reality of the faithfulness of God whatever our feelings may be. So, we have cause for lament and cause for thanksgiving. Such is the crazy mixture of our individual faith journeys.