“I call upon the Lord in my distress, and he answers me.” Psalm 120:1
Fuming, stomping, spitting mad, the emotions coursed through her as she threw a mental tantrum.
We’re back to this again.
That repetitive problem. The issue which is never resolved. That which makes life complicated. She stomped her foot and collapsed into a nearby chair.
We all have these issues, not a one of us is alone in such a mess, although we often feel that way.
“God, why is this still here?”
She knew could call a dear friend and pour her heart out, and she would compassionately listen to the broken record. Or she could do something both more positive and more productive: she could vent to God.
Isn’t that what Psalm 120:1 is really saying? I speak to God and He answers. God cares about us, and He wants us to communicate with Him.
Even vent. Respectfully.
Yes, He certainly already knows the situation and He certainly knows any personal feelings toward it. He also knows He created humans to need to vent, to release all the emotions and reactions.
God wants us to turn to Him when we have any need: a physical need of healing, a spiritual need of finding peace, or an emotional need of processing a hurt.
We are told in James, that in our anger, we should not sin. James also tells us not to slander.
We must be careful not to unload on a friend, slandering someone else in the process. And while we are in a pit of despair, we don’t want to drag anyone else down there with us! The enemy loves for misery to multiply!
Instead, if we spend time with God first, venting to Him and then reining in those emotions, we can confidently call a friend if we still desire human comfort. Hopefully by that time, the temper has cooled, the heart has softened, and the mind has cleared.
Then we can pray together and our conversation is not deafening gossip but glorifying to God.
Reflections:
Monday: When was the last time I called on the Lord in my distress? What happened?
Tuesday: Read Philippians 2:3-4 “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. ” Often, when I am hurt, I am only thinking of my emotions, my reactions to my pain.
Am I being selfish?
How does this line up with Philippians 2:3-4?
Wednesday: Read James 4:11-12 “Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?” It’s okay to tell the truth, to those who need to hear it. But I must choose my words carefully, frame the context correctly and proceed with selfless caution.
What is the purpose of my sharing this negative experience or conversation? Honestly, what is my motivation?
How do you keep your motives in check?
Thursday: Read James 4:17 “If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.” Sometimes, my hurt is so deep and so raw I want to selectively “forget” Philippians 2:3-4, harden my heart, soothe my own soul, and speak my mind, letting the flaming phrases fly like an arrow into someone else’s heart!
Yet, that is not what James 1:20 instructs, (because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.) When I give into that temptation, I’m allowing myself to be a witness against God- not where I want to go!
How do you pursue “the righteous life God desires?”
Friday: Prayer: “Heavenly Father, You have given us emotions for a reason. Please help me to use them wisely and to glorify You through them. Please teach me how to exercise self-control in the throes of anger, hurt, or rejection, and for my knee-jerk reaction to automatically become running to You first. May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be glorifying to You! Amen.”
Thank you for reading! I would love your feedback to any of the questions this week. Please respond to one or all, sharing what works for you, so that each of us may glean some novel ideas! Please return by Sunday, June 15, for the next post: Father’s Day: A Thank You to Men of Integrity.
That is a tough question to answer. I know that as I have gotten older I have mellowed in many ways but have less patience with those who are impatient or simply critical (but do nothing to rectify the situation) – so that’s a paradox I guess.
God has worked on me. I look at them through a godly prism now. I have been able to forgive those that have wronged me out of spite in the past, mostly because I see that it was just God’s way of moving me toward another goal in my life. For example at the previous position I held and absolutely loved, I was bullied and disliked by a few people and never understood why. All I wanted to do was to make them happy. I figured out eventually that God had other plans for me and it was only His way of setting me up financially to stay home and pursue a godly position. Therefore it was Genesis 50:20 working in my life and I felt sorry that those mean-spirited people had no idea that God only used them for good. Blessings,
Hi Ellie,
Thank you so much for your response. I agree: God uses all things for our good, just as He promises. Thank you for testifying to that and providing yet another modern day example! I know I am also a work in progress, and I’m just so thankful He never gives up on me! Blessings, Stefanie
So true and Amen! 🙂 “Be angry and sin not . . . ” Ephesians 4:26 That position I mentioned was a PR recreational one with lots of fun and event planning – (which I had already done for twenty years.) I had left a Christian position with minimum wage to follow one with “big bucks.” How foolish when it is only what we do for God that lasts. I appreciated your response, thanks.