Across the country it’s graduation time. Here in South Dakota many schools have already closed for the summer. Most of those that remain open will close in the coming days. Everywhere one turns there’s another grad party. What awaits all these new grads? A decade ago I wrote an articlefor my newspaper column with some advice for recent graduates.While it was aimed at high school graduates, it is also highly relevant to recent college grads. The article hasbecome one of the most popular pieces Iever wrote. I’ve received hundreds of emails thanking me fortaking the time to shareit. Therefore, I decided to republish it annually around graduation time. I hope some of you might find it useful.You can view the original article in the Tribune-Democrat news at this link:http://goo.gl/LtN72
For those who are graduating high school this year and beginning the long transition into adulthood, I’d like to offer…
Along the wilderness journey we call life, one will inevitably face periods of adversity. They can begin in a multitude of ways. Some of the most common causes are the death of a loved one, a bad medical diagnosis, the breakup of a love relationship, losing a job, or a personal financial crisis just to name a few. In extreme cases, severe adversity can make one wonder whether their life is worth living anymore.
My life has been overflowing with adversity recently, including the deaths of a beloved uncle and a beloved brother-in-law in rapid succession, and my own health concerns. Prayer and meditation on God’s word can be a great source of comfort when facing adversity. The Lord Jesus has given his followers a model for prayer in what today we generally refer to as “the Lord’s Prayer.” The most familiar form of His prayer is found in chapter 11 of Luke’s Gospel.
It is Jesus model for daily prayer and focuses on approaching life with faith in God, one day at a time. I suspect that Jesus prayed a similar prayer daily. I have found Psalm 143 to be a wonderful companion to the Lord’s Prayer, particularly when believers are navigating periods of adversity. This psalm is attributed to David and is one of the Seven Penitential Prayers found in the Book of Psalms. Below I share some thoughts on how this psalm speaks to me.
Psalm 143 (a form used in the Scottish Episcopal Church)
1 Lord, hear my prayer, and in your faithfulness heed my supplications; answer me in your righteousness.
This is an opening petition acknowledging that God listens to my prayers and takes them to heart. Our God is a good listener and is never too busy to pay attention when one of His children prays. He seriously considers each prayer I lift up to Him, and he answers each according to His holy will.
2 Enter not into judgement with your servant, for in your sight shall no one living be justified. Verse 2 asks God not to judge me by my actions, as all have sinned against Him and fallen short of the total obedience He requires. I can rest assured that I don’t have to earn the right to pray to God. Christ has already paid the price of admission for a space where I may kneel before the throne of God the Father and offer my heartfelt prayers. Jesus is my advocate before the Father and the Holy Spirit prays for me when I lack the proper words to make my own petitions.
3For my enemy has sought my life; he has crushed me to the ground; he has made me live in dark places like those who are long dead. 4My spirit faints within me; my heart within me is desolate.
These verses remind me of 1 Peter 5, which describes Satan as a roaring lion that is on the prowl looking for someone to devour. For me it paints a dark picture of the adversity I am facing, as if I were hiding in a tomb, filled with a spirit of fear and hopelessness, abandoned by God. Jesus must have felt like this hanging on the cross, asking why God had forsaken him.
5I remember the time past; I muse upon all your deeds; I consider the works of your hands. Verse 5 steps back and from the darkness and depression of the two preceding verses as the Psalmist recalls how God has led him through adversity and saved him. As I read this verse, I recall the many times in my life God has rescued me from adversity.
6I spread out my hands to you; my soul gasps to you like a thirsty land.7 O Lord, make haste to answer me; my spirit fails me; do not hide your face from me or I shall be like those who go down to the Pit.
Like a small child reaching for the outstretched hands of a loving parent, I trust in my God for comfort and sustenance. My spirit thirsts for God like the desert thirsts for water. I ask God to respond quickly, as I feel like I’m standing on the brink of disaster.
8Let me hear of your loving-kindness in the morning, for I put my trust in you; show me the road that I must walk, for I lift up my soul to you.
As I begin a new day, I ask God to reassure me of his loving presence. I trust in God to sustain me throughout the day.
9Deliver me from my enemies, O Lord, for I flee to you for refuge.
I ask God to foil the plans of my enemies, both spiritual and physical ones. Seeking refuge from my enemies, I turn to God’s word and prayer for comfort.
10Teach me to do what pleases you, for you are my God; let your good Spirit lead me on level ground.
I ask the Holy Spirit to lead me along a safe path where I may understand God’s will for my life and learn how to do His will. I pray that the Holy Spirit will move the mountains of adversity that are in my way.
11Revive me, O Lord, for your name’s sake; for your righteousness’ sake, bring me out of trouble.
My spirit grows weary and I need God to renew and refresh me. In accordance with His holy will, I ask him to rescue me from all adversity that troubles me.
12Of your goodness, destroy my enemies and bring all my foes to naught, for truly I am your servant.
This closing verse echoes verse 9, reiterating my need for God’s protection from my enemies. I am reminded that as God’s servant, I am owned and protected in His holy service.
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Divine Simplicity 
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