PSALM 42:1-2As the deer pants for streams of water,so my soul pants for you, my God.My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?

PSALM 42:1-2As the deer pants for streams of water,so my soul pants for you, my God.My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?

The Psalmist isThe Psalmist is

PARCHEDPARCHED

PSALM 42:3My tears have been my food day and night while people say to me all day long,“Where is your God?”

The Psalmist isThe Psalmist is

PARCHEDPARCHED

IN THE MIDST OFIN THE MIDST OF

SICKNESSSICKNESSIN THE MIDST OFIN THE MIDST OF

SUFFERINGSUFFERING

IN THE MIDST OFIN THE MIDST OF

CONFUSIONCONFUSIONIN THE MIDST OFIN THE MIDST OF

EVILEVIL

A PERSPECTIVE on EVIL...I just don’t believe the God of Christianity exists…God allows terrible suffering in the world. So He might be either all-powerful,but not good enough to end evil andsuffering, or else He might be all-goodbut not powerful enough to end evil and suffering. Either way the all-good, all-powerful God of the Biblecouldn’t exist.(Hillary, undergrad English major)

A PERSPECTIVE on EVIL...This isn’t a philosophical issue to me…This is personal. I won’t believe in a Godwho allows suffering, even if He, or She,or It exists. Maybe God exists, maybe not.But if He does, He can’t be trusted.”(Rob, Hillary’s boyfriend)

PHILOSPHER J.L. MACKIEIf a good and powerful God exists, He wouldnot allow pointless evil, but because there ISmuch unjustifiable, pointless evil in theworld, the traditional good and powerfulGod could not exist. Some other god orno god may exist, but not the traditionalGod (of the Bible.)

THE HIDDEN PREMISE...If evil appears to be pointlessTO ME, then it MUST BE pointless.If our minds can’t search the depths of the universe for a reasonableexplanation for suffering, well, then, there must not be one!

THE HIDDEN PREMISE...

As Tim Keller says, however, “This is blind faith of the highest order.”

If evil appears to be pointlessTO ME, then it MUST BE pointless.If our minds can’t search the depths of the universe for a reasonableexplanation for suffering, well, then, there must not be one!

A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE...- If God is great and transcendent enough to be mad at because He hasn’t STOPPED evil and suffering in the world, then you (ALSO) have a God great and transcendent enough to have good reasons for ALLOWING it to continue that you simply aren’t aware of…

A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE...- If you are SURE this natural world is unjust and filled with evil, you’re assuming the reality of an extra/supernatural standard by which to judge such things; you’re assuming a way rational creatures are SUPPOSED to live, OBLIGED to live…

PSALM 42:4These things I remember as I pour out my soul:how I used to go to the house of Godunder the protection of the Mighty Onewith shouts of joy and praise among the festive throng.

PSALM 42:5Why, my soul, are you downcast?Why so disturbed within me?Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him,my Savior and my God.

PSALM 42:6My soul is downcast within me; therefore I will remember You,from the land of the Jordan, the heights of Hermon—from Mount Mizar.

The Psalmist isThe Psalmist is

OVERWHELMOVERWHELMEDED

PSALM 42:6My soul is downcast within me; therefore I will remember You,from the land of the Jordan, the heights of Hermon—from Mount Mizar.

THE WESTERN WALLThe closest possible point to the former “Holy of Holies” in the old Temple,the only place Jews believe God’s presence can truly be accessedby the community of His people…

PSALM 42:6My soul is downcast within me; therefore I will remember You,from the land of the Jordan, the heights of Hermon—from Mount Mizar.

PSALM 42:7-8Deep calls to deepin the roar of Your waterfalls; all Your waves and breakershave swept over me.(Yet) by day the Lord directs His love,at night His song is with me - a prayer to the God of my life.

The Psalmist isThe Psalmist is

OVERWHELMOVERWHELMEDED

PSALM 42:7-8Deep calls to deepin the roar of Your waterfalls; all Your waves and breakershave swept over me.(Yet) by day the Lord directs His love,at night His song is with me - a prayer to the God of my life.

PSALM 42:9-10I say to God my Rock,“Why have You forgotten me?Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy?”My bones suffer mortal agony as my foes taunt me, sayingto me all day long, “Where is your God?”

The Psalmist isThe Psalmist is

DISHEARTENDISHEARTENEDED

PSALM 42:11Why, my soul, are you downcast?Why so disturbed within me?Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him,my Savior and my God.

HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?- Parched?

- Overwhelmed?

- Disheartened?

- Parched? Like the Psalmist, let yourself go & openly acknowledge your feelings

- Overwhelmed?

- Disheartened?

HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?

- Parched? Like the Psalmist, let yourself go & openly acknowledge your feelings

- Overwhelmed? Like the Psalmist, make yourself think about the truth of who/where God is

- Disheartened?

HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?

- Parched? Like the Psalmist, let yourself go & openly acknowledge your feelings

- Overwhelmed? Like the Psalmist, make yourself think about the truth of who/where God is

- Disheartened? Like the Psalmist, pull yourself together, take your thoughts captive (2 Cor. 10:5)

HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?

HEBREWS 13:5Never will I leave you,never will I forsake you…

MATT. 28:20And surely I amwith you always,event to the veryend of the age.

HE ISHE IS

RIGHT RIGHT HERE.HERE.