psalms expedition 2
Pray with Honest Emotions
For He has not despised nor scorned the suffering of the afflicted; Nor has he hidden His face from him; But when he cried to Him for help, He heard.
Psalms 22:24
The Psalms teach us to pray with honest emotions. They remind us that prayer is not bound by formalities or pretense. Rather, prayer is a space for genuine and unreserved communication with God where we can be vulnerable and sometimes even frustrated.
The author of Psalms 22 expressed honest feelings well. This psalm was written by David and it begins with the words spoken by Jesus on the cross, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" We can perceive the anguish and despair sourced from stomach-level emotions of feeling abandoned and forsaken by God.
Throughout the psalm, the author continues to express deep distress. The psalmist describes feelings of physical weakness, deep sorrow, and being scorned by others. He does not hold back in expressing torment and pouring out his heart before God. Notice what happens as the psalm progresses.
Psalms 22 does not end in despair. The author shifts from feeling abandoned to a declaration of trust and hope in God. The psalmist affirms God's faithfulness, His presence in times of trouble, and His deliverance. The psalm ends with a resounding declaration of praise and hope in God's goodness and sovereignty!
This example from Psalms 22 shows us that the Psalms teach us to be completely honest with God, even in our darkest moments. They demonstrate that it is permissible to express our doubts, frustrations, and pain to God, as long as we bring them to Him with an open heart and a posture of seeking His presence and deliverance. The Psalms show us that God can handle the full range of our emotions and that He invites us to bring them to Him in prayer. When we do, God turns our focus from our distress to His ability. He turns our troubled hearts and minds toward hope and peace.
As we continue our quest for learning how the Psalms teach us to pray, let us remember the words of Psalms 22:24, and make it our prayer:
For He has not despised nor scorned the suffering of the afflicted; Nor has he hidden His face from him; But when he cried to Him for help, He heard.
