	Praying through Writing
	As I read the psalms, I am frequently struck by the change of mood that occurs during the course some of them. This is particularly noticeable in three psalms. In each of these psalms the writer begins by expressing a feeling of alienation from God, and a sense of spiritual pain. He then goes on to state what he believes about God, and begins to feel connected to God again. This also brings a sense of spiritual hope and comfort. This is particularly striking in the short Psalm 13. Here the writer feels both forgotten by God and oppressed by enemies. Then comes the statement (verse 5). But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. Having complained to God, and realised that he can trust in God's love, the writer now feels able to sing praise to God. Psalm 22 is much longer. It begins with words of desolation - the words that Jesus quoted on the cross: My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? In verses 1-18 the writer expresses extreme physical and spiritual pain, and it is remarkable how closely these words describe what Jesus would experience on the cross hundreds of years after the psalm was written. The mood of the psalm changes dramatically at verse 19, when the writer considers the nature of the God he is addressing. He is the Lord who listens to the cry of all of us who are afflicted and enables us to rejoice. The psalm ends with these words: Future generations will be told about the Lord. They will proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn- for he has done it.	By expressing his pain and his faith in God, the writer finds a sense of peace. This enables him to feel able to proclaim the Lord's power and goodness to future generations. By expressing his complaint and his pain, and then by expressing his trust in God's love and power, the writer is able to experience and express hope. Another psalm where significant changes occur when the writer addresses God and is honest with him is Psalm 139. Here the writer comes to the amazed realisation that God knows all about him, and is with him all the time. He finds this knowledge so frightening that he wants to run away; but he finds that, like a loving parent who will not give up on a child, God will not let him run away from his love. The writer wants to go into some dark place and hide, but even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. (Psalm 139:12) It must have been very helpful for the writer of these psalms to put pen to papyrus. Through the very act of writing, the psalmists found hope. The hope that they found can be a great source of strength and hope for us. I recommend you to try it. Simply write down how things are for you at the moment, then write down what you believe about God. What does that make you want to write? You are not writing to impress anyone else. It does not have be a piece of literature. You can destroy it once it is done, though you might prefer to keep it. You may find that the very act of writing has enabled you to know God's love and strength in your life in a new way. I certainly have found that. Martin Collins
	Norbury Parish Church, Hazel Grove, Stockport, Cheshire. Telephone: 0161-483 6325

Praying through Writing

As I read the psalms, I am frequently struck by the change of mood that occurs during the course some of them. This is particularly noticeable in three psalms.

In each of these psalms the writer begins by expressing a feeling of alienation from God, and a sense of spiritual pain. He then goes on to state what he believes about God, and begins to feel connected to God again. This also brings a sense of spiritual hope and comfort.

This is particularly striking in the short Psalm 13. Here the writer feels both forgotten by God and oppressed by enemies. Then comes the statement (verse 5).

But I trust in your unfailing love;
my heart rejoices in your salvation.

Having complained to God, and realised that he can trust in God's love, the writer now feels able to sing praise to God.

Psalm 22 is much longer. It begins with words of desolation - the words that Jesus quoted on the cross: My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? In verses 1-18 the writer expresses extreme physical and spiritual pain, and it is remarkable how closely these words describe what Jesus would experience on the cross hundreds of years after the psalm was written.

The mood of the psalm changes dramatically at verse 19, when the writer considers the nature of the God he is addressing. He is the Lord who listens to the cry of all of us who are afflicted and enables us to rejoice. The psalm ends with these words:

Future generations will be told about the Lord.
They will proclaim his righteousness
to a people yet unborn-
for he has done it.

By expressing his pain and his faith in God, the writer finds a sense of peace. This enables him to feel able to proclaim the Lord's power and goodness to future generations. By expressing his complaint and his pain, and then by expressing his trust in God's love and power, the writer is able to experience and express hope.

Another psalm where significant changes occur when the writer addresses God and is honest with him is Psalm 139. Here the writer comes to the amazed realisation that God knows all about him, and is with him all the time. He finds this knowledge so frightening that he wants to run away; but he finds that, like a loving parent who will not give up on a child, God will not let him run away from his love. The writer wants to go into some dark place and hide, but

even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.
(Psalm 139:12)

It must have been very helpful for the writer of these psalms to put pen to papyrus. Through the very act of writing, the psalmists found hope. The hope that they found can be a great source of strength and hope for us.

I recommend you to try it. Simply write down how things are for you at the moment, then write down what you believe about God. What does that make you want to write? You are not writing to impress anyone else. It does not have be a piece of literature. You can destroy it once it is done, though you might prefer to keep it. You may find that the very act of writing has enabled you to know God's love and strength in your life in a new way. I certainly have found that.

Martin Collins

Praying through Writing

Norbury Parish Church, Hazel Grove, Stockport, Cheshire. Telephone: 0161-483 6325