Eyelids Held Open (Psalm 77:4)

 


Tuesday, 2 December, 2025


Psalm 77

Isaiah 40:18-31

1 Thessalonians 2:1-12


Observance: Frances Perry, founder of the Royal Women’s Hospital, Melbourne (d. 1892)


Eyelids Held Open (Psalm 77:4)


You hold my eyelids open;
    I am so troubled that I cannot speak.


There is a prayer of confession in the old prayer book with a certain line that is so miserably accurate to the human condition when faced with their own sin, that it is a shame that it has been left out of our modern translation:


We do earnestly repent,
and are heartily sorry for these our misdoings;
the remembrance of them is grievous unto us,
the burden of them is intolerable.

St Augustine of Hippo suggested a way of approaching memories that can lead to a real healing of the soul, when used to bring personal sins before God for forgiveness.


I wish now to review in memory my past wickedness and the carnal corruptions of my soul – not because I still love them, but that I may love thee, O my God. For love of thy love I do this, recalling in the bitterness of self-examination my wicked ways, that thou mayest grow sweet to me, thou sweetness without deception! Thou sweetness happy and assured!


Memories are a funny old thing to try and figure out. Perhaps the best we can do is try and use them for God’s glory in our own sanctification. Today’s Psalm seems to suggest that even God has a part to play in bringing those memories before us. He holds the Psalmist’s eyelids open until the Psalmist sees the wonders of God’s redemption.


Do you allow God to hold your eyelids open? What do you see? Can you find Christ?


God of our past regrets and future hope: hold us in your love until we see the goodness of Christ, whom you have given to us, that we may finally be at peace from the tempest of our sins, and be brought to him by the power of your Holy Spirit working in us.

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