Our Daily Bread Teens EditionSample

Read Psalm 22:1–5, 24–26

1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

 Why are you so far from saving me,

 so far from my cries of anguish?

2 My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer,

 by night, but I find no rest.

3 Yet you are holy,

 enthroned on the praises of Israel.

4 Our ancestors trusted in you,

 and you rescued them.

5 They cried out to you and were saved.

 They trusted in you and were never disgraced.

24 For he has not despised or scorned

 the suffering of the afflicted one;

he has not hidden his face from him

 but has listened to his cry for help.

25 From you comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly;

 before those who fear you I will fulfil my vows.

26 The poor will eat and be satisfied;

 those who seek the Lord will praise him –

 may your hearts live for ever!

Ignored?

Psalm 22 begins with these heartbreaking words that Jesus uttered on the cross: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34).

How bad the situation must have been, that David, the writer of this psalm, would cry out to God this way! He felt abandoned: “Why are you so far from saving me?” (Psalm 22:1). It was like God was ignoring him: “My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer” (v. 2).

Ever been there? Ever looked up to the sky and wondered why it felt like God was ignoring you? Welcome to David’s world. Yet despite his painful cry, David recalls good things about God that stops him from losing hope. He remembers how God had answered the cries of His people in the past, and chooses to believe that God will deliver him. He remembers that God is holy and trustworthy (vv. 3–5), and that He will deliver His people (vv. 8). 

Do you feel like God’s forgotten about you? Read Psalm 22 again and remember who He is. And let your heart “rejoice with everlasting joy” (v. 26 NLT). —DB

When we feel that God is distant, we can read the Bible and remember His faithfulness.

Talk to God

Father, sometimes I feel as if You don’t care about my life. When those times come, please remind me of what You are like. Help me to trust You again and know that You are always there for me.

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