Experiencing God’s love does not mean that all of our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors will be pleasant and pure.  It means that we can be real, feeling pain and joy, love and anger, confidence and confusion.

The Psalms give us tremendous insight about what it means to be honest with the Lord.  David and other psalmist wrote and spoke honestly about the full range of their responses to situations. For example:

David expressed his anger with the Lord because he felt abandoned – I say to God my rock, ‘why have you forgotten me?  Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy?’ Psa 42:9 NIV

At times, David was angry with others – Break the teeth in their mouths, O God; tear out, O Lord, the fangs of the lions?  Let them vanish like water that flows away;.. Psa 55:6 NIV 

David wrote of his despair about difficult situations – My heart is an anguish with me; the terrors of death assail me.  Fear and trembling have beset me; horror has overwhelmed me.  Psa 55:4-5 NIV

At times David trusted in the Lord – The Lord is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear?  The Lord is the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid?  Psa 27:1 NIV

These passages demonstrate that God, who spoke of David as a man after His own heart, wants us to be open and honest with Him about all of our emotions, not just the pleasant ones.   

When the light of love and honesty shines on thoughts of hopelessness, it is often very painful.  We begin to admit that we really do feel negatively about ourselves – and have for a long time. 

But God’s love, expressed through His people and woven into our lives by His Spirit and His Word, can, over a period of time, bring healing even to our deepest wounds and instill within us an appropriate sense of self-worth.

As we move forward through ‘The Search For Significance’…ask the Lord to give you the courage to be honest.  Give Him permission to shine His Spirit’s light on your thoughts, feelings, and actions.  You may be surprised by additional pain as you realize the extent of your wounds, but our experience of healing can only be as deep as our awareness of the need for it.  This takes the power of God’s light.  Ask Him to turn on the light.  (cont tomorrow)

Dear Father…help us to see our need for your constant source of light.  Help us to not be afraid of your light of truth ‘because’ we can trust that it is delivered to us through your love…through your best interest for us…and for your eternal glory.  Help us to realize that we can trust you…absolutely trust you because of your great love for us.   Amen