Crying Out for the Soul

Sunday morning we continued our sermon series through the Psalms by looking at Psalm 13. The writer, David, expresses himself in a full and open declaration of his emotions and struggles with his present circumstances. David is not happy and he knows who to target and blame for his predicament. It is God. The sovereign who controls and dictates all things, the one who has called him to be king, the God who sits silent as he suffers. David is more than hurt and confused, he is angry and belligerent toward God. Through his honest sharing of his emotions, David finds the release of his pains. David has not whined or complained to friends and neighbors, he has gone to the source and declared his displeasure. In doing so, David now is ready to receive from the one he has confronted. Exhausted from the emotional outpouring David can now confirm the reality and truth that supersede his emotions. God has a “steadfast love” for him in which he can trust. David can “rejoice” in his salvation. He can praise God for his bountiful goodness toward him.

Life is hard. Life is full of pain and suffering. God is in control. These truths seem contradictory. We expend great amounts of energy trying to understand and make sense of these things from our finite and limited perspective. The whole time God invites us to become intimate with him and share our hurts and pains with him in an unadulterated fashion. When we express ourselves openly, we open ourselves up to allowing HIM to express himself fully to us. It is in the tragedy and pain we can find just how sweet and good God truly is for us. God invites us to trust him which is the means for knowing him. Do you know God? Do you choose to trust God even in the pains of life?