Whether you’re walking through hardship, battling feelings of unworthiness, or simply need to be reminded of God’s unfailing grace, this message points us back to the hope we have in Jesus Christ. His grace is greater than our failures, His love never lets go, and because of His sacrifice, we can draw near to Him with confidence.
The God Who Never
Lets Go
This week, I wanted to encourage you with one simple but life-changing truth: even when life is filled with suffering, spiritual battles, or seasons where God feels distant, He never lets go of you or me. Psalm 22 reminds us that our hope has always been found in Jesus Christ—the One who suffered in our place so we could experience His forgiveness, His presence, and His victory.
1. Even When God Feels Silent, He Is Still Faithful
Psalm 22 opens with the words, “My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?” (Psalm 22:1). David wrote these words during a time of deep anguish, and centuries later Jesus spoke them from the cross (Matthew 27:46).
Many of us have walked through seasons where our prayers seem unanswered and where God feels far away. I experienced one of those battles personally while preparing this message. It was a reminder that our faith isn’t built on our feelings—it rests on God’s unchanging character. Though Psalm 22 begins with lament, it ends in praise because God hears His people and remains faithful to His promises. He never lets go.
2. Psalm 22 Points Us Directly to the Cross
One of the remarkable things about Psalm 22 is how clearly it foreshadows the crucifixion nearly a thousand years before crucifixion was even practiced. David describes pierced hands and feet, soldiers casting lots for clothing, and crowds mocking the suffering servant (Psalm 22:16–18), all of which were fulfilled in Jesus (John 19:23–24; John 20:25).
Jesus could have come down from the cross, but He chose to remain there because of His great love for us. He endured the suffering so that we could receive forgiveness, reconciliation, and eternal life (Philippians 2:5–11).
3. The Crimson Worm Reveals the Beauty of the Gospel
One verse in Psalm 22 often gets overlooked: “I am a worm, and not a man” (Psalm 22:6). In Hebrew, the word used here is tola, referring to the crimson worm rather than an ordinary earthworm.
The crimson worm has long been associated with the scarlet dye used in the tabernacle and the high priest’s garments (Exodus 26:1; Exodus 28:5–6). As I studied this passage, I was struck by the beautiful picture it paints of Christ.
The female crimson worm attaches herself to a tree before giving birth. As she dies, she stains both the tree and her offspring with a crimson scarlet dye that gives life to her young. After several days, her body turns white.
What an incredible picture of Jesus. He willingly gave Himself on a wooden cross, shedding His blood so that we could be cleansed from sin and made new. Isaiah reminds us, “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow” (Isaiah 1:18). Even in a single Hebrew word, God points us to the sacrifice and redemption found in Christ.
4. God’s Grace Is Greater Than Our Failures
One of the enemy’s greatest weapons is convincing believers that they are beyond God’s forgiveness. But that is a lie.
None of us stands before God because we’ve earned His acceptance. Jesus took our sin upon Himself and clothed us with His righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21). When we repent, He forgives. When we fall, He restores. He never lets go of us. There is “no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).
God has never been looking for perfect people. He delights in transforming imperfect people by His grace.
5. We Are Called to Bring Hope to a Broken World
As I look around our communities, I see brokenness everywhere—people searching for hope, families under attack, and lives devastated by addiction and despair. The answer isn’t simply better circumstances or better leaders. What our world desperately needs is a fresh move of God.
Jesus has called His Church to be the light of the world (Matthew 5:14–16). Revival begins when God’s people remember who He is, trust His promises, and boldly share His love with those around them. Every believer has been called to reflect Christ and invite others into the hope that only He can give.
Our Hope Rests in Christ Alone
The journey through Psalm 22 begins with suffering, but it ends with worship and victory. That is the story of the gospel.
Jesus endured the cross because He loved us. He bore our sin so we could receive His righteousness. He conquered death so we could have life. And today He continues to intercede for us, reminding us that we are never alone and never beyond His grace.
No matter what you’re facing, remember this: Christ has not let go of you. His love is steadfast, His grace is sufficient, and because of His sacrifice, we can confidently draw near to Him with hope and joy.
This recap reflects the key themes of the sermon, including the teaching on the Hebrew tola (crimson worm) as a picture of Christ’s sacrificial work.
Previously, by this speaker:
Who We Are in the Eyes of the Lord (on Facebook)
The Temptations of Christ (on Facebook)