Honest Prayers
Psalms 69:15 (NLT) says, “Don’t let the floods overwhelm me, or the deep waters swallow me, or the pit of death devour me.” When we are facing danger, we can call on the Lord.
I love the psalms because they are gut-level honest. The prayers and praises recorded in that book were clearly not written to please an audience but to glorify God. The more you read the psalms, the more you will see what an authentic life with God looks like.
Life isn’t always easy.
It is easy to get the impression that once we become Christian, everything gets better in our lives. And yes, there are blessings on the head of the righteous, but there are still trials and difficulties that we will face.
The Psalmist doesn’t run from these problems. He doesn’t pretend that they will just disappear if he says a few happy prayers. He is in the thick of it and pleading with God for help.
There is something powerful that happens when we open up to God into our suffering and needs. There is a new level of transparency and dependency that is formed when we do this.
Crying out to God, we realize that he is present in our time of need. It gives us the space to lament the struggles we are facing and process the lack that we feel. God is a good listener, and he allows us to express our anguish from our suffering and our fears of the unknown.
If we have the eyes to see it, we will realize that God is wide open and engaging with us in our needs. I’m someone who believes that God knows what we need before we ask. He intervenes in our lives and works for our good before we even know what is going on. Still, there is something powerful about bringing our needs before God with complete honesty.
Maybe you’re facing a trial today. You can be honest with God. “Don’t let the floods overwhelm me, or the deep waters swallow me, or the pit of death devour me.”
Amen.
It is important to be open and transparent before God in prayer. He is the best source of help for our soul, but there are many other helpful resources and tools that promote wellness. We encourage anyone dealing with difficult situations to pursue spiritual, mental, and emotional help alongside an active prayer life.
