God's Comfort in Our Honest Plea

“How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me?” - Psalm 13:1-2 NIV

How many times have you found yourself asking similar questions to those King David asked God in these verses? Life has its ways of leaving us feeling shattered. Jobs are lost. Relationships crumble. Sickness strikes. During these tough times, it may feel like God has turned away.

But, He hasn’t abandoned you.

Take a look at the similar cry of the prophet Jeremiah. He faced a nation in ruins, with Judah’s people facing terror and foreign invasion. Jeremiah didn’t shy away from expressing his feelings to God. He said, “[God] has made my skin and flesh grow old. He has broken my bones. He has besieged and surrounded me with anguish and distress. He has buried me in a dark place, like those long dead. And though I cry and shout, he has shut out my prayers” (Lamentations 3:4-8).

It might surprise you to find such words in the Bible. These men like David and Jeremiah, just like some of us today, felt at one point deserted by God. But they didn’t suppress their feelings. They opened their hearts to God. They honestly shared their struggles. They laid it all bare.

God included verses like these in the Bible for a reason. He wants you and me to know that our emotions—our anger, our grief—are valid. These raw expressions of pain show that God can handle our most honest feelings.

If you bottle up your emotions, you only harm yourself. It takes a toll on your well-being. Instead, learn to lay it all before God.

When you pour out your emotions, God doesn’t love you any less. He doesn’t owe you an explanation in those moments. What He wants you to understand is that He can handle your battles, your doubts, and even your anger. We can only imagine the expression on our God the Father’s face, showing how understanding He is when we reveal how weak and afraid we are.

Expressing our anger allows us to be open and honest, so we can mature in finding ways to be clear and direct with Him. It is all part of our spiritual growth.

So go ahead, talk to him with honesty. It’s a step towards healing and maturity.

Power of 4 Discussion Question:

How has expressing your raw emotions to God during difficult times helped you in your spiritual walk?