Voice: Kae Chee
Today is Wednesday, 25th of February, the eight day of Lent. We pray this Lenten collect:
Almighty God, whose blessed Son was led by the Spirit to be tempted by Satan: Come quickly to help us who are assaulted by many temptations,
and, as you know the weakness of each of us,
let each one find you mighty to save;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who live and reign with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever. Amen.
Psalm Reading
We read Psalm 77:1-15
I cry aloud to God,
aloud to God, and he will hear me.
2 In the day of my trouble I seek the Lord;
in the night my hand is stretched out without wearying;
my soul refuses to be comforted.
3 When I remember God, I moan;
when I meditate, my spirit faints. Selah4 You hold my eyelids open;
I am so troubled that I cannot speak.
5 I consider the days of old,
the years long ago.
6 I said, “Let me remember my song in the night;
let me meditate in my heart.”
Then my spirit made a diligent search:
7 “Will the Lord spurn forever,
and never again be favorable?
8 Has his steadfast love forever ceased?
Are his promises at an end for all time?
9 Has God forgotten to be gracious?
Has he in anger shut up his compassion?” Selah10 Then I said, “I will appeal to this,
to the years of the right hand of the Most High.”11 I will remember the deeds of the Lord;
yes, I will remember your wonders of old.
12 I will ponder all your work,
and meditate on your mighty deeds.
13 Your way, O God, is holy.
What god is great like our God?
14 You are the God who works wonders;
you have made known your might among the peoples.
15 You with your arm redeemed your people,
the children of Jacob and Joseph. Selah
Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now,
and shall be forever. Amen.
Laments
Do you know that many of the Psalms are laments? More than a third of the 150 psalms give voice to sorrow, complaint, and anguish.
Traditionally, Anglicans were meant to read through the entire Psalter every month. If we were to do so faithfully, we would encounter lament again and again. We would not be able to avoid it. We would be immersed regularly in cries of distress. As we read through some of the psalms in our daily devotions, you will notice them.
In modern and successful Singapore, we often prefer an upbeat view of life. Even in some churches, leaders are trained not to sound negative, but to create an energetic and positive atmosphere.
But if the Psalms are songs of worship, what should the modern church do with these laments? Should we cut away a third of our ancient songbook? Should we silence the songs written by souls in anguish?
Ecclesiastes 3:4 reminds us:
“For everything there is a season… a time to weep, and a time to laugh.”
Take today’s psalm as an example. It is not merely a cry of desperation — it is a prayer. A deeply honest and vulnerable cry to God. It carries the full weight of lament: raw emotion, grief, questions, complaints, longing — all lifted heavenward in trust.
Do you have friends, family or cell members who are suffering? Why should our worship not give voice to their pain?
Many of us are connected to the terrible conflicts unfolding around the world. Why can we not join in tearful intercession for families torn apart by war? Why is there sometimes so little room — in our daily prayers or in our gathered worship — for lament?
Psalm 77, like many others, teaches us that it is not only acceptable but faithful to lament. God is not threatened by our pain or honesty. He listens without judgment.
The ability to lament before God is not a sign of weak faith. It is a mark of authentic faith. When the church gathers and refuses to acknowledge the laments of life, we unintentionally push aside those who are grieving. We create a space where only the joyful feel at home, while the wounded feel unseen.
Prayers, cries, and laments are the sacred sounds of suffering. May we learn, like the psalmists, not to suppress them but to voice them — and in doing so, find healing, comfort, and the quiet assurance that even in our darkest moments, God hears.
🌿 Thought for Lent
For this Lent, will you be intentional to draw close to those who are suffering? Or perhaps you can take a moment to feel the pain which someone is going through? Our inability to feel the pain in another can be a very serious handicap to our witness and ministry.
And visit someone who is homebound. The Anglican Church is blessed with many nursing homes and community hospitals. Be intentional and draw close to those who are in pain. You may end up more blessed than those you are seeking to bless!
We are all grieved by the pain that countless are facing in the wars that are still raging in 2026. May this version of the lament from Psalm 83, O God do not be silent capture the cries of our hearts:
O God, do not be silent
O God, do not be still
O God you can’t stand by and watch
While your children are killed
You heard the people screaming
You heard the cries of pain
You know the ones who made these plans
You know they’ll come again
O God be like the hurricane
O God be like the storm
O God of justice come like fire
Do not let them escape O God,
do not be silent O God,
do not be still O God
you can’t stand by and watch
While your children are killed
Words & Music: © 2017 Wendell Kimbrough.
Link to today’s Morning Office
About This Daily Devotion
This weekday devotion is drawn from the Morning Office and is part of a project initiated by Revd Canon Terry Wong, with contributions from clergy and members across various parishes. Each entry includes selected readings from the appointed Psalm and another Scripture passage, accompanied by a reflection and prayer. An audio option is also available, often ending with a hymn or song. We encourage you to both read and listen.
Our aim is to help Anglicans engage more deeply with our rich liturgical tradition, while meeting the devotional needs of today’s believers. This project began on Ash Wednesday 2025 and is offered on weekdays only.
For feedback, please write to us at info@mpcc.org.sg
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