Ep. 445: Psalm 102-103 What are the Benefits?

Have you ever felt invisible to God? Psalm 102 begins with the prayer of someone who feels overwhelmed, afflicted, and alone: "Hear my prayer, O Lord, and let my cry come unto thee." It echoes Joseph Smith's plea from Liberty Jail: "O God, where art thou?" These are prayers born in moments when we know God is there—but struggle to feel His presence. In this episode, we explore what happens when a prayer that begins in desperation gradually becomes a testimony. The Psalmist moves from describing his loneliness and suffering to declaring, "But thou, O Lord, shalt endure forever."Sometimes our circumstances haven't changed, but through prayer, our ability to see God in the middle of them does. That leads to a fascinating phrase in Psalm 103: "Forget not all his benefits." What are the actual, practical benefits of following Jesus Christ? Peace in a confusing world. Guidance when making difficult decisions. Prayer when anxiety overwhelms us. Commandments that teach us eternal laws. Covenants that give direction and purpose. And perhaps most importantly, the assurance that we are never invisible to the Lord. But there is another insight: when we feel invisible, perhaps one of the best things we can do is turn our attention outward. Who can I serve? Who can I pray for? Who can I smile at, encourage, lift, or love? Even something as ordinary as showing charity in traffic can become an opportunity to practice the pure love of Christ. If you've been struggling to feel God's presence, wondering whether He hears your prayers, or simply need a reminder of what following Jesus Christ is actually doing in your life, this study session is for you. "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits."