June 9, Heart to Heart

Today’s reading: Psalms 41-45

“Sometimes I ask God, my rock-solid God, ‘Why did you let me down? Why am I walking around in tears, harassed by enemies?’ They’re out for the kill, these tormentors with their obscenities, Taunting day after day, ‘Where is this God of yours?’”
- Psalm 42:9-10, The Message.

Today’s passage from a different translation captures the conversational tone of many psalms as the psalmist pours his heart out to the Lord. It is impossible to offend the Lord with your honest, transparent prayers, for God knows what’s on your heart before you utter a word. The honesty is not for His benefit but for yours! What’s more, we see once again that the righteous were in trouble, this time from people who were tormenting the psalmist, wondering why God wasn’t helping him in his distress. The writer had to work through this seeming contradiction by means of a heart-to-heart talk with God. Moses also had honest talks with the Lord, as reported in Numbers 11:14-15: “I cannot carry all these people by myself; the burden is too heavy for me. If this is how you are going to treat me, please go ahead and kill me — if I have found favor in your eyes — and do not let me face my own ruin.” Is it time you had a heart-to-heart talk with the Lord? What do you need to tell Him? What confusion do you need to set before Him?