Do you have the freedom to accept yourself and express your feelings of stress or distress?
In some cultures, it’s not considered acceptable to express feelings of deep distress or grief. The result is that we often suppress these feelings or think there is something wrong with us.
However, David the Psalmist frequently referred to his distress or grief and anguish. By doing so, he frees us to be human. When things are not going well in the family, at work, or some other distressing life situation, David gives us permission to express those feelings, if not publicly, at least before the Lord.
David even shares that he is able to receive love and mercy in the midst of those feelings. I draw encouragement from David’s expressions of his feelings in the Psalms and a sense of freedom to accept myself.
When he feels distressed in situations, he doesn’t run from God. He finds God in them. In doing so, He finds relief.
“I will be glad and rejoice in Your mercy and steadfast love because You have seen my affliction, You have taken note of my life’s distresses,
“And You have not given me into the hand of the enemy; You have set my feet in a broad place.”
Psalm 31:7-9 (Amplified)
One of the sweetest ideas is the fact that God listens to our cries and responds.
“You, Lord, hear the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry.” Psalm 10:17
“In my distress, I called to the Lord; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears.”
Psalm 18:6 (NIV)
Freedom is allowing yourself to admit and accept your feelings and find God in the midst of them. Maybe you feel like no one understands or cares but Someone does and Someone cares.
If you like this post, share it with others and put your best email in the box on the right to receive more encouragement and wisdom. Let us know in the comments how the Psalms encourage you in the expression of your feelings.
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