“Hear me, my God, as I voice my complaint.”
— Psalm 64:1
You know from many years of Sunday school that believers are supposed to “do everything without grumbling or arguing” (Philippians 2:14). And yet, some days you feel so frustrated that you’re ready to explode. Sometimes it’s little things like your sister drinking all the orange juice. Sometimes it’s big things like getting a bad grade on a test. You bottle up your feelings, pretending things are great. When you pray, you feel like a phony.
But you don’t need to feel this way! God is the one person to whom you can always tell the absolute truth. If it weren’t all right to be totally honest with God, would David have written these psalms? “O Lord, hear me as I pray; pay attention to my groaning” (Psalm 5:1 NLT). “I pour out before him my complaint; before him I tell my trouble” (Psalm 142:2). Being totally honest with God about your feelings is good. It isn’t the same as grumbling about your life to everyone you meet. It’s just sharing your feelings with him so you can sort them out together — and he can help you in each situation. Talk to God. He cares.
More To Explore: Psalm 130:1 – 2
Girl Talk: When you pray, what do you talk to God about? Is it on-the-surface stuff, like “Help me pass my test tomorrow”? Or is it heartfelt, like “I’m so mad at Mom. Why can’t she understand me?” How can you “go deeper” in your prayers?
God Talk: “Lord, I want to be able to talk to you about anything. Please help me remember that it’s okay to share everything with you. Amen.”
From Shine On, Girl! by Kristi Holl