[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”3.0.74″ custom_padding=”0px|||” custom_padding_tablet=”50px|0|50px|0″ transparent_background=”off” padding_mobile=”off”][et_pb_row padding_mobile=”off” column_padding_mobile=”on” _builder_version=”3.0.47″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Subheading – Psalm 38:15″ _builder_version=”3.12″ text_font=”Open Sans|on||on|” text_font_size=”20″ use_border_color=”off” border_style=”solid”]<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.ttc.edu.sg\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Lent2019-Ps3815-wait-with-hope-annaluu.jpg” show_in_lightbox=”on” _builder_version=”3.12″ use_border_color=”off” \/][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row padding_mobile=”off” column_padding_mobile=”on” _builder_version=”3.0.47″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text ” _builder_version=”3.12″ text_font=”Georgia||||” use_border_color=”off” border_style=”solid”]<\/p>\n
For it is for you, YHWH, I waited;
\nYou, you will answer, my Lord my God.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
WAIT WITH HOPE FOR WE ARE PRECIOUS TO GOD <\/strong><\/p>\n I had begun the year with a clear resolve to walk closely with the Lord, depending on his Spirit\u2019s guidance. The first two months went wonderfully well. Every morning I would wake up with either a song or a Scripture verse in my heart that prepared me for the day\u2019s challenges beforehand.<\/p>\n Then one unexpected morning the light seemed to switch off. The words and the songs ceased; the spiritual motivation dried up, and the joy evaporated. I did not find the strength to minister to others in need. I felt like a weak, crumpling piece of clay.<\/p>\n That week also marked the beginning of the Lent season, and at our TTC Wednesday Chapel service I lined up with others before the altar for the imposition of ash, a symbol of our brokenness and contrition before God. When I heard the words, \u201cFrom dust you came, to dust you shall return,\u201d they resonated with every part of my inner being. I felt utterly confronted by the feebleness and finitude of my own existence.<\/p>\n The Palmist could identify with such feebleness. He was \u201cbent\u201d and \u201cbowed down\u201d and \u201cwalked in darkness\u201d (v. 6), under the overwhelming weight of his sin and shame (v. 7), coupled with the incessant hounding of his enemies (v. 12) and the alienation of his companions (v. 11). He too was confronted with his human mortality.<\/p>\n But the Psalmist had hope. The Hebrew word \u201cyakhal<\/em>\u201d for \u201cwaited\u201d connotes the idea of a bold expectation. The Psalmist\u2019s waiting was not the fatalistic or cynical kind, but a firm anticipation that YHWH himself will show mercy to this weak, crumpling clay he has made.<\/p>\n The sense of spiritual darkness reminded me that nothing in my mortal, fallen nature could accomplish what the Lord required of me. It taught me instead to look to the Lord, because as the psalmist said, \u201cYou, you will answer.\u201d As Dr Maggie said of her Ash Wednesday experience, \u201cEvery grain of dust is precious to him.\u201d<\/p>\n Anna Luu <\/strong> [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Psalm 38:15 Psalm 38:15 For it is for you, YHWH, I waited; You, you will answer, my Lord my God. WAIT WITH HOPE FOR WE ARE PRECIOUS TO GOD I had begun the year with a clear resolve to walk closely with the Lord, depending on his Spirit\u2019s guidance. The first two months went […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","inline_featured_image":false,"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[60],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-35512","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-lent2019","et-doesnt-have-format-content","et_post_format-et-post-format-standard"],"yoast_head":"\n
\n(M.Div., Yr 2)<\/strong><\/p>\n