Psalm 13:1-2 1 How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? 2 How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?
Have you ever been brought to a place of mental and emotional exhaustion over a situation that seems to never end? We all have, and I’m sure your picturing the situation right now. You feel beat down and defeated as you look to the heavens with only one question, “How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever?”
You may not be asking God to answer you in that moment, but you definitely feel the need to vent your frustration because a problem is completely out of your control and there doesn't appear to be an end in sight.
Did you know it’s okay to do that?
To literally vent your frustration and lay your exhausted heart and mind at the Lord's feet. God can handle your questions. God can handle your hurt. God can even handle your doubt. These prayers to God take place all the time in scripture and I believe God puts them in His Word to show it is okay to approach Him in this way.
Yes, we should do this with reverence, and we should always understand the holiness and awesome power of God, but we should also know that God cherishes our transparent moments with Him.
How do I know?
I am the father of four children. When they come to me and openly share what is going on in their lives it warms my heart. It shows me that they love me and trust me with what is going on inside of them. On the flip side, silence and distance are relationship killers.
God created us for relationship with Him, and relationships are built on honest conversations.
Which is funny if you think about it.
The Lord knows our every thought, desire, and feeling. It’s silly of us to hold any of it back as though He doesn’t know. David asked, “How long, Lord?” four times in the first two verses of Psalm 13, and God handled his honest pleas just fine. By the end of Psalm 13 David is singing because he recognizes the Lord's presence in his life. He knows he has a father in heaven who will never leave him and who will listen to him.
Don’t be afraid to ask the Lord questions. He can handle your emotions. He created you to have them.
Lord, you know when I am tired. You know when I need help. Send me relief when situations are out of my control. Thank you for being patient with me when I’m exhausted. Amen
Josh Huisman is the senior pastor of New Hope Community Church in Brentwood, TN.
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