We live in a broken world, and unfortunately sometimes we will be faced with painful experiences, frustrations and disappointment. Walking with God doesn’t mean life is always a party or filled with positivity. At times we will have to face, and do hard things.
In these moments it important to acknowledge our feelings, because it’s in these times that we can experience a deep closeness to God. A faith and trust in God that has no room for “crying out” to Him in frustration, hurt and even confusion results in a shallow faith. It’s not only healthy to share our honest feelings with Him—it’s necessary to grow.
The bible is full of the passionate emotion of people crying out in lament, questions, frustrations, and disappointments to God. In our Western culture we are often taught to keep a “stiff upper lip”, and to “suck it up princess”. But God actually wants us to be honest with Him, and to share our hearts, even if that means with some lamenting. He knows there is healing found in that place with Him.
Jesus Himself wept, and cried out to the Father.
Isaiah 53:3 tells us that the suffering Messiah would be “a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief.
“About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).(Matthew 27:46)
“Where have you laid him,” He asked. “Come and see, Lord,” they answered. Jesus wept. Then the Jews said, “See how He loved him!”… (John 11:34-35)
The bible says we are to imitate Jesus, meaning we are to rejoice, to celebrate, to speak God’s word, to mourn with those who mourn, to cry out, to weep. We are to imitate His feelings, His emotions, His expressions, and His actions. If Jesus feels, then it must be okay for us to feel too. Minimising our feelings can actually rob us of intimacy with God, as He doesn’t see our relationship being conditional on us always feeling great, or having it all together. We can also grow close to Him in disappointment, pain and frustration.
Are you hurting? Take the opportunity to open up your heart, and be honest with God about how you feel. Our pain, and disappointment can be pathways for a deeper relationship with Him.
In Psalms 30:5 David sings “Weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.” This is a promise that even when life hurts, it will not be forever. Be honest; cling to God, tell Him how you feel, and know that “He will perfect that which concerns you,” and bring you through whatever you are facing. (Psalm 138:8)
“Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.” (Psalm 55:22)
“The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” (Psalm 18:2)
“The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. (Psalm 34:18)
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