In Lamentations 2:19 I read, “Get up, cry out in the night, even as the night begins. Pour out your heart like water in prayer to the Lord." (NCV)
If I think I’ve had a bad day? Job would understand; he practically had a PhD in pain and loss.
In the very first chapter of Job, everything in his life fell apart. His response? “Job stood up, tore his robe in grief, and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground and worshiped” (Job 1:20 GW).
Notice that Job openly expressed his pain to God. When I experience pain, I can tell God exactly how I feel. It should be the first thing I do.
God can handle my anger and frustration. He can handle my emotions. Why? Because he gave them to me. I was made in his image, and he is an emotional God.
I can tell God how I feel. I can say, “I’m mad. I’m upset. I’m frustrated.” God can handle my complaints, questions, fear, and grief. God’s love for me is bigger than all my emotions.
My kids know I love them. They know I have more experience than they have because I’ve been on this planet longer. But my children sometimes question my judgment. Still, I’d rather have an honest, gut-level conversation with them than have them stuff their frustration and disappointment inside.
God is the same way! God would rather I wrestle with him in anger than walk away in detached apathy.
When tragedy strikes, I don’t have to grin and bear it. Instead, I can go to my heavenly Father with my pain. “Get up, cry out in the night, even as the night begins. Pour out your heart like water in prayer to the Lord” (Lamentations 2:19 NCV).
In summary, I can cry and pour my heart like water in prayer to the Lord. If I think I’ve had a bad day, Job would understand. In the very first chapter of Job, everything in his life fell apart. His response? “Job stood up, tore his robe in grief, and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground and worshiped”. Job openly expressed his pain to God. When I experience pain, I can tell God exactly how I feel. It should be the first thing I do. God can handle my anger and frustration. He can handle my emotions. I was made in his image, and he is an emotional God. I can tell God how I feel. I can say, “I’m mad. I’m upset. I’m frustrated.” God can handle my complaints, questions, fear, and grief. God’s love for me is bigger than all my emotions. God would rather I wrestle with him in anger than walk away in detached apathy. When tragedy strikes, I don’t have to grin and bear it. Instead, I can go to my heavenly Father with my pain.
In this chapter, the people had much to cry about. Because of their stubborn rebellion against God, they had brought great suffering to all, especially to the innocent. Was this suffering God's fault? No, it was the faith of the wayward people. Sinful people brought destruction on themselves, but tragically, sin's consequences affected everyone, good and evil alike. The people's suffering and sin should have brought them to the Lord, weeping for forgiveness. Only when our prideful, independent hearts are broken over sin can God come to my rescue. Just feeling sorry about experiencing sin's consequences does not bring forgiveness. But if we cry out to God in repentance, he will forgive us.
Father, thank you for Your Word and Jesus as my savior and example. You want me and I need you in my life. Please give me Your strength for today and remind me in little ways that I can always believe in, have faith in and can trust you in everything. This includes being the authority for my life, the source of my self-worth and my hope for the future. You have my best interests in mind. So I ask you to help me to embrace the way you’ve made me; my gifting and passions. Help me to serve and fulfill the mission you have in mind for me.
Today, I ask you for wisdom and guidance for my day, my work, my leadership, my interactions with others, doing well and making a difference in others lives. I pray all these things through your Son Jesus’ name, Amen.
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