S4: Week 30 Day 5: Applying Psalm 22 & Matthew 27:45-50

Summary

A Year in the Bible with Daily Grace: Season 4, Week 30 Day 5 Summary

Episode Title: Applying Psalm 22 & Matthew 27:45-50
Release Date: July 25, 2025
Host: Alexa and Katie from The Daily Grace Co.

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Introduction

In the latest episode of A Year in the Bible with Daily Grace, hosts Alexa and Katie delve into the profound connections between the Old and New Testaments, specifically focusing on Psalm 22 and Matthew 27:45-50. This episode, part of Season 4's Christ in All of Scripture reading plan, aims to uncover how Jesus is intricately woven into every thread of the Biblical narrative.

Exploring the Scriptures

Psalm 22 is a poignant Old Testament passage that vividly portrays suffering and a deep sense of abandonment. In Matthew 27:45-50, we witness Jesus Himself experiencing these exact emotions on the cross. This parallel underscores the continuity of God's plan and the embodiment of prophecy in the person of Jesus.

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Key Discussions and Insights

1. The Power of Honest Prayer

Katie opens the discussion by highlighting the intense moment when Jesus cries out to God on the cross:

"Jesus cried out to God in despair on the cross, which encourages us to cry out to God in our own pain."
— Katie [00:37]

This moment of raw vulnerability serves as a powerful example for believers, illustrating that it's acceptable to express genuine pain and despair to God.

2. Embracing Honesty in Our Relationship with God

Alexa builds on this by sharing a personal application of the week's passages:

"Psalm 22 shows us that we could be honest with God when he feels distant... why can't we?"
— Alexa [01:03]

She acknowledges the universal experience of feeling distant from God, whether due to life's struggles, lack of regular spiritual disciplines, or personal sin. Alexa emphasizes that both Psalm 22 and Jesus' cry on the cross demonstrate that deep suffering doesn't preclude a relationship with God. Instead, it invites a more honest and transparent dialogue.

Key Takeaway:

When experiencing feelings of abandonment or pain, believers are encouraged to approach God with honesty, trusting that He remains present despite appearances to the contrary.

3. The Assurance of God's Presence in Our Struggles

Katie adds a complementary perspective, focusing on the empathy and solidarity God offers through Jesus' suffering:

"Jesus' experience on the cross reminds us that our God is a sympathetic God. He is familiar with our pain because he experienced it."
— Katie [02:42]

She underscores that God's entry into human suffering through Jesus means that believers are never truly alone in their darkest moments. This assurance fosters a deeper trust and reliance on God's enduring presence and provision.

Key Takeaway:

God's intimate understanding of our pain through Jesus' experience provides comfort and assurance that He is always with us, even when circumstances make His presence seem distant.

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Practical Applications

Applying these insights involves cultivating a relationship with God that embraces both honesty and hope. Alexa outlines practical steps inspired by this episode:

1. Thank Jesus for His Sacrifice:

   • "Thank Jesus for experiencing the punishment you deserve for your sin."
     — Alexa [03:40]

2. Praise for Intimacy with God:

   • "Praise Jesus for bringing you into an intimate relationship with God."

3. Share Your Struggles:

   • "Share with God any ways you are struggling right now and ask Him to help you."

4. Trust in God's Presence:

   • "Trust in His presence and provision."

These prompts encourage believers to engage deeply with God, bringing forth their genuine emotions while resting in the assurance of His unwavering presence.

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Conclusion

Alexa and Katie wrap up the episode by inviting listeners to continue their journey through Scripture, ensuring they have access to additional resources and community support:

"Thanks so much for joining us this week... we hope that you join us next week as we learn more about seeing Christ in all of Scripture."
— Alexa [03:40]

Listeners are encouraged to explore study materials, journals, and other resources available at thedailygraceco.com, and to follow Daily Grace Podcast and @thedailygraceco on Instagram for ongoing encouragement and resources.

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Final Thoughts

This episode of A Year in the Bible with Daily Grace offers a profound exploration of suffering, honesty, and the enduring presence of God through Jesus. By paralleling Psalm 22 with Jesus' crucifixion, Alexa and Katie provide deep theological insights coupled with practical applications, encouraging believers to maintain open hearts and unwavering trust in God's plan, even amidst pain and uncertainty.

Whether you're in the midst of personal struggles or seeking a deeper understanding of Scripture, this episode serves as a comforting reminder of God's intimate involvement in every aspect of our lives.

Transcript

[Host]

Welcome to A Year in the Bible with Daily Grace. This year we want to spend a few minutes with you every day walking through our study Christ in All of Scripture. Each week we will dive deeply into two passages of Scripture, one from the Old Testament and one from the New, seeing how they connect and point to Jesus.

[Alexa]

Whether you are doing the study yourself or just following along with us here, we are hopeful that through studying these passages each week, you will see how Christ is not only present throughout the entire Biblical story, but but the center of it. Hi friends. Welcome back to another episode of the Year in the Bible. My name is Alexa and I'm here with my co host for the week, Katie.

[Katie]

Hey everyone. This week we have studied Psalm 22:1 2 and Matthew 27:45, 50, and we have learned that Jesus cried out to God in despair on the cross, which encourages us to cry out to God in our own pain. Now we want to spend some time discussing how we want to practically apply what we have learned this week. So, Alexa, how do you plan on applying this week's passages?

[Alexa]

Yeah, earlier this week I briefly mentioned how Psalm 22 shows us that we could be honest with God when he feels distant. I don't know about you, but I definitely experience times in which God feels far or I just don't feel as close to him as I would like to feel. And it's really easy in those moments to think that I must be doing something wrong so I can't go to God with how I'm feeling. And while that feeling of distance can be because we're not spending time with God regularly or because there is a sin issue in our lives, often that feeling of distance just comes because we're struggling in some sort of way. In both Psalm 22 and Matthew 27 show us two examples of people who were experiencing deep suffering. And what did they do? They cried out to God and they cried out to him by honestly sharing how they felt and, you know, honestly sharing with God how they felt like God had left them. And I think the fact that Jesus spoke these words is just encouraging to us as well. Because if Jesus, who is God in the flesh, could be honest with God the Father in such a way, why can't we? But it's also encouraging to know that because of what Jesus has done for us on the cross, we aren't without hope. When it feels like God is distant because of Christ's salvation, we have been brought into a relationship with God and the Spirit of God dwells within us. And that means that even when it feels like God is far, he's not. He is still with us. So those moments that God feel far rather than falling into despair, I want to both be honest with God while also clinging to that hope that he hasn't left me and he will never leave me.

[Katie]

That's so good. I love the faith that that takes, you know, to trust that God is with us when it feels like he's far. What a gift it is that we don't have to come to God, you know, cleaned up and polished. We can come to him with our real, raw pain. As difficult as it similarly, another takeaway that I've been dwelling on this week is just the fact that some of these experiences where we feel alone, where it may feel like no one understands or no one's in my corner, we can look at these passages and know that Jesus experience on the cross reminds us that our God is a sympathetic God. He is familiar with our pain because he experienced it. Our God entered into our struggle and conquered it. And these verses, though hard to read, remind me that I'm not alone on my darkest days and I am just so grateful for that. And friends with that, let us move into prayer. Alexa, can you give us a few prompts to pray through today?

[Alexa]

Thank Jesus for experiencing the punishment you deserve for your sin. Praise Jesus for bringing you into an intimate relationship with God. Share with God any ways you are struggling right now and ask him to help you. Trust in his presence and provision Foreign thanks so much for joining us this week and we hope that you join us next week as we learn more about seeing Christ in all of Scripture. Thank you for listening to today's episode of A Year in the Bible with Daily Grace. Be sure to check out our show notes for some helpful links and resources related to today's episode. And make sure you're following a daily Grace Podcast and hedaily Grace Co on Instagram for more Bible study resources and encouragement. We're looking forward to studying God's Word with you again tomorrow. Bye friends.