Be Honest
OPENING PRAYER:
God, focus my mind on you today as I spend time in your Word. Limit distractions and give me clarity as I seek to know you more.
“Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. My soul is downcast within me; therefore, I will remember you from the land of the Jordan, from the heights of Hermon-from Mount Mizar. Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me. By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is within me – a prayer to the God of my life. I say to God my Rock, “Why have you forgotten me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy?” My bones suffer mortal agony as my foes taunt me, saying to me all day long “Where is your God?” Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.” Psalm 42:5-11
REFLECT:
It’s so hard, in today’s world, to be honest about how we are really feeling. Social media and the internet paint a picture that everyone is happy, and that life is good all the time. People post when their life is going well but tend to keep the messy and complicated pieces of their lives private. The truth is that we all have difficulty and anxieties that we deal with.
The author of Psalm 42 is honest with God about how they are feeling. They don’t hold back with God. The author says that their soul is downcast. Are we willing to admit to God, to ourselves, and to others that we are struggling?
I was diagnosed with anxiety about 10 years ago after going through some very significant struggles in my marriage. Initially, I didn’t want to admit that anything was wrong with my marriage or that the issues we were having were problems I couldn’t deal with. I finally came to a place where I knew I couldn’t handle what was going on by myself. First admitting to myself that I was struggling and having panic attacks and then reaching out for help was one of the hardest things I have ever done. Being honest about our anxieties is the first step towards healing.
APPLY:
We can overcome anxiety by knowing that God wants us to be honest about our pain. Cry out to God today about struggles, anxieties and hurts in your life that you may be afraid to acknowledge. Let God help you carry the burden of these concerns. Find a friend, a mentor, or a counselor to share your anxieties with.
CLOSING PRAYER:
God, you know my heart and what I am currently struggling with. Give me bravery as I admit that I need you and as I reach out for help from others.