There are times when life’s circumstances make us feel like we’re crying out into a void, with no response from the heavens. Even King David, the giant-slayer and future ruler of Israel, found himself in such a place. In Psalm 22, David's lament resonates deeply with anyone who has ever felt abandoned by God:

"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"
"Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish?"
"My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, but I find no rest."

These words don’t sound like they belong to a mighty king, but to a man who is utterly broken, desperate for God’s presence in the middle of what seems like insurmountable circumstances. David was no stranger to pain and despair. Though we don’t know exactly where David was when he penned these words, he was likely hiding in a cave, running for his life from King Saul, who sought to kill him.

Perhaps you can relate. Maybe you're in a situation right now that feels impossible. Perhaps you’re beginning to wonder if God is even listening to your cries, let alone responding. But here’s a truth I want to hold on to, and one I hope you’ll grasp as well:

In the midst of our circumstances, God isn't silent; he's shaping us.

I can speak from experience. Recently, my wife and I made a critical decision about where to send our youngest daughter to school. Our daughter is Deaf, and we felt confident that God had provided a plan and a team of experts to support her as she started Kindergarten. Yet, just two days before school began, we received a call that changed everything—the plans we had made fell through. We were left in a situation far from ideal, crying out to God, desperately reminding him of how crucial this year is for our daughter’s development. Yet, even as we wrestled with God’s silence, we were reminded of his faithfulness in shaping and holding us through past challenges.

As I read Psalm 22 this week, I was encouraged to see that I’m in good company. David, despite feeling abandoned, continued to declare God’s faithfulness, even as he cried out in pain. This shows us that God often does his deepest work and speaks the clearest in our most challenging circumstances.

Prayer, then, is not about convincing God to align with our plans; it's about placing ourselves in a position to hear from him, especially when we feel most vulnerable. David’s honesty in his lament reveals a profound truth: even when it feels like God is distant, in the midst of our circumstances, God isn't silent; he's shaping us.

This idea might seem strange, but David’s raw and real cries to God show us the beauty of being vulnerable in the depths of despair. He understood that God was shaping him, even when he felt abandoned. And this shaping isn’t just about making us stronger or more independent—it’s about deepening our dependence on God.

Paul echoes this in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, where he writes, "But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

If dependence is the goal, weakness is not a liability, but an advantage.

David understood this, even in the midst of his crazy circumstances. He knew that even when God felt distant, God was working to shape him into a person who could declare with confidence in Psalm 23: "The Lord is my shepherd; I lack nothing."

The journey from Psalm 22 to Psalm 23 wasn’t an easy one for David. It was filled with trials, pain, and desperate cries to God. Yet through it all, God was shaping David into a man of deep faith and resilience.

This truth is illustrated powerfully by the story of Biosphere 2, an experiment in the Arizona desert in the late 1980s and early 90s. In this controlled environment, trees grew rapidly but would eventually fall over. Scientists discovered that the trees lacked one crucial element: wind. Without the resistance and stress that wind provides, the trees grew quickly but were weak and unable to stand on their own.

Similarly, in our lives, the "wind" of difficult circumstances is often what God uses to build our resilience and faith. It’s in the storms that our faith grows strong, not in the comfort of an easy life. In our circumstances, God isn't silent; he's shaping us for greater resilience.

David’s journey from despair in Psalm 22 to the peace and trust of Psalm 23 reminds us that God’s shaping process is ongoing. He’s not just interested in making us stronger for our own sake, but in shaping us to look more like him.

So, when you find yourself in the midst of painful circumstances, remember that God is working. He may seem silent, but he's shaping you. And in those moments when you feel weakest, remember that dependence on God is not a sign of failure—it's the goal.

The cross itself, the ultimate symbol of suffering, reminds us that God’s greatest work often happens in the darkest moments. It’s a powerful declaration that even when it seems like God is silent, he’s not. He’s shaping a story of resurrection, both in Jesus’ life and in ours.

So, whatever valley you’re walking through today, take heart. The Shepherd never leaves his sheep. He’s not just guiding you—he’s fighting for you, and he’s already won the battle.

Blog adapted from August 25, 2024, message by Minister Alex Ehly