Honestly Speaking

Honesty

A recent conversation with my daughter went something like this:

“Seriously Mom, thank you for not thinking awful things of me when I express how I’m really feeling and it’s not good.”

She also thanked me for allowing her just to “vent” about everything and the emotions she was going through, especially since some pain in her heart was front and center – rearing it’s ugly head and taking over much of the day.

I assured her that no matter what she ever said or even did that I would always love her.

I then took the time to remind her that isn’t it wonderful that we can come to God and pour out the hurts that are killing us, pour out the anger that is eating at us and pour out the many other emotions that can seem to be so overwhelming that we can’t think, see or even feel anything but what is running through our heart at that very moment.

Often when we pray we “clean up” our prayers and “nicely” come to God asking for help through our situations.  May I remind you that God knows what you are screaming in your heart?

God KNOWS and even better than that – HE CARES and loves us anyway!

Be real with the Lord.

July and August 2013 were the beginning of some awful months in my world.  After a wonderful event – an answer to a lifelong prayer, several horrid & unexpected events took place.  The tears were streaming daily, deep awful sobs of pain escaped from my heart daily and then, in a weekend of a moment of peace, I called a friend (friend of over 25 years) after seeing her on Facebook.  We chatted, caught up and had a great time laughing. I needed that more than she knew.  Did we discuss my problems? No.  We laughed.  We discussed what she was doing and how our kids were and how crazy it was that we were parents of adults.  We made plans for dinner for the following week and hung up.

My heart was refreshed during a difficult time of pain.

Then it happened.  A few days later, I get the message that my friend had just had a massive stroke and died.  Did I hear that right? That was it.  Even though I never mask my feelings with God and we have some “very frank” conversations I was in shock kept thinking/praying “Seriously Lord???” This on top of everything else?  I was devastated even further.  The only thing I could keep praying is:

God, I don’t understand – but I trust you

Over and over I prayed.  and then I reached out.  Nothing specific, just reached out and was comforted by the prayers that I knew was being poured out on my behalf.

We don’t always understand and that is ok.

We don’t always come to God with poetic prayers and that is ok.

Sometimes we come to God with “Where are YOU?? I NEED YOU” and that is ok.

Satan would have us fear that God gets angry with this kind of prayer but He doesn’t.  David, in the Psalms, over and over cried out “How LONG Lord?”

It’s ok to come to God and just pour out all of your hurts that have you broken at your very core.  He knows and He cares.

It’s ok to be completely honest with God.  He knows in your heart you are screaming and the pain is killing you physically and emotionally.

It’s ok to do nothing and say nothing more than “God I need you” and then rest in Him.  Let him refresh you just like Elijah had to do.

Don’t let guilt move you from the Lords presence. 

Be honest with the Lord and watch how he refreshes you. Your trials and situation may not change in an instant, but God’s grace will be sufficient and carry you through.

Things WILL get better.  Seasons DO Change.  The tears will slow down and stop. God IS Faithful!

Your turn.  Who or what has God used to refresh you during a difficult time in your life?

What verses do you turn to for comfort?

Thank you for leaving your comments below! Thank you for encouraging others in their walk of faith! 

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