Invisible footprints
You probably know the old hymn by Ernst Gebhardt: "What a friend our Jesus is." The second verse reads: "When the enemy's power threatens us and many storms blow around us, we need not fear if we stand faithfully in prayer. Then Jesus' faithfulness is revealed, as he stands by us as a mighty savior who answers earnest prayer."
Bringing our problems before God in prayer is a tried and tested practice in Christian circles. Unfortunately, sometimes it's not enough to simply stabilize us; we need a new perspective on prayer. This is precisely what [the text] demonstrates. Psalm 77, in which the singer Asaph experiences great distress. He pours out his heart to God, but this time finds no comfort: “I call to God and cry for help; to God I call, and he hears me. In the time of my distress I seek the Lord; my hand is stretched out in the night and does not cease; for my soul refuses to be comforted. I remember God—and am troubled; I meditate, and my spirit despairs.” (Ps 77,2-4).
Then Asaph poses those questions that also torment us when we are at the end of our strength: "Has God forgotten to be merciful, has he closed his mercy in anger?" (Ps 77,10).
The psalmist suspects that he himself may have done something to turn God's heart away, or that God may have changed. Then he makes a crucial decision, one as important as the prayer itself. He looks back, seeks evidence of God's faithfulness, and recalls the deliverance of Israel at the Red Sea: "Your way went through the sea, and your path through the great waters; yet no one saw your trace. You led your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron." (Ps 77,20–21).
Asaph remembers the situation when the Israelites fled from the Egyptians. The Egyptian army pressed behind them, and the sea towered before them—no way out in sight. Then God opened the waters and answered their cry for help, even though his footprints remained invisible. Often, God chooses a completely different solution than we expect. Have you experienced this as well? Like Asaph, we can trust that God's answer will be the best for everyone involved. That's why it's good advice to bring our concerns before God in prayer. At the same time, it helps to keep alive stories of his faithfulness: "He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. For God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord." (1. Kor 1,8-9).
When we encounter trials and temptations, we can consciously reflect on God's past provision in our lives and in the lives of others. His proven faithfulness gives us hope that he will remain faithful now as well: "Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful." (Hebr 10,23)Rest in God's faithfulness today. Even if you cannot recognize his footprints in your current situation, God will carry you safely through it – just as he did then.
by Heber Ticas
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