Doesn’t it seem almost sacrilegious to “pour out my complaints” to God? But if King David — who had a heart after God — can unload all his troubles on the Lord, shouldn’t we?
As a daughter of a Marine, I used to think that emotions were just pesky distractions from the sometimes difficult tasks of life. But in my college years, God took me through a time of deep soul-searching to help me realize that emotions are the seasoning of life, providing richness and depth.
When we share our emotions with others, we often connect with them on a deeper level. The same is true of God. To truly draw close to our Heavenly Father, we need to let him dig around in our heart and uncover the painful memories and discarded emotions. The truth is, God already knows what’s hiding there. But he wants you to see it and pour it out to him. When we don’t face the emotions we’re trying to ignore, they’re going to squirt out all over the place in ways you might not even notice — but others probably do.
When I was in college, I often wondered: What do we do with all these jumbled up feelings? The answer is in the name. We feel them. And we express them to God — one emotion at a time. Let God sit with you as you feel each emotion and explore the memories associated with it. Often one emotion will lead to another and then to another. Let them roll through, bringing each one before the Lord.
Are you frustrated with COVID-19 interrupting your life? Are you overwhelmed at being alone and disconnected? Are you a parent with young kids at home, and you’re just aching for a moment to yourself? Tell God. He’s waiting to hear from you.
Listen in as King David authentically and honestly unloads his emotional burdens on the Lord:
Psalm 142
“A psalm of David, regarding his experience in the cave. A prayer.
1 I cry out to the Lord; I plead for the Lord’s mercy.
2 I pour out my complaints before him and tell him all my troubles.
3 When I am overwhelmed, you alone know the way I should turn. …“
What are you feeling? Ask God to search your heart and spend time expressing your emotions to him. Talk to him like you would a best friend. He’s waiting for you.
By Cyndie de Neve
Senior Creative Director