Psalm 30 is David’s testimony of praise to God for rescuing him from a period in his life in which he was overcome with despair. What follows is a reinterpretation and reorganization of the Psalm as a monologue. It is interspersed with the congregational song representing God’s voice, “Don’t Be Afraid” by John Bell.
God’s Voice: “Don’t Be Afraid” Bell
Reinterpretation of Psalm 30
Listen to my testimony.
I believed in God. I still do.
Before though, I was confident that nothing could shake my faith.
In fact, I didn’t understand how anyone could doubt.
I believed in God, yet
there was a time when I found myself
in what felt like a bottomless, inescapable pit of despair.
Alone.
Afraid.
I was pretty sure if God was with me at all, it was in anger.
If God loved me, I wouldn’t have found myself in that place, right?
I honestly didn’t think I was going to make it.
My whole life was shrouded in darkness,
and I just couldn’t stop crying…
though often they were silent cries,
cries that reverberated deep in my very being.
Did God even hear me?
Had God left me?
Had I left God?
All I knew for certain was that I could no longer feel God’s presence.
I was afraid.
God’s Voice: “Don’t Be Afraid” Bell
Reinterpretation of Psalm 30
Have you ever been to this place? This place of despair?
What hurtled you headlong into this place?
Perhaps it was
-depression
-chronic pain and illness
-unemployment
-the loss or death of a best friend…spouse…child.
-the loss of the place we called home
-the loss of safety
-the loss of innocence
-the loss of self.
I felt alone. Scared. Vulnerable.
I thought everyone was laughing at me.
Deep darkness surrounded me like a thick suffocating blanket.
So heavy.
I couldn’t move.
I couldn’t breathe.
I lost all hope.
Have you been there?
Crushed at the bottom of the pit?
Maybe you are there now.
God’s Voice: “Don’t Be Afraid” Bell
Reinterpretation of Psalm 30
In desperation I called out to God.
What good is all of this?
How can I do the work you have called me to do if I am incapacitated?
How can I be the person you want me to be if I’m stuck down here?
I want to live.
I want to be alive.
It didn’t happen all at once, but I began to notice the darkness lifting.
I could start making out my surroundings.
I felt stronger.
I felt God’s presence once again, pulling at me,
tugging at me, slowly slowly drawing me in close,
breathing new life into my soul.
And then it was morning;
the darkness was overcome by the light.
My circumstances hadn’t changed,
but I was no longer overcome by hopelessness and fear.
My faithful God heard my cries and saved me.
God’s Voice: “Don’t Be Afraid” Bell
Reinterpretation of Psalm 30
So today I stand here testifying to God’s goodness.
My constant tears have been replaced with unending praise to God.
“Weeping may linger for the night,
but joy comes with the morning.” (Psalm 30:5, NRSV)
Song of Praise: “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” Chisholm