Joyce Meyer Daily Devotional 18 May 2024, Saturday Message
TOPIC: Tell God How You Feel
My bones suffer mortal agony as my foes taunt me, saying to me all day long, “Where is your God?” Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. – Psalm 42:10-11 (NIV)
One reason we can relate to the psalms that David wrote is that he did not hesitate to tell God exactly how he felt. No matter how discouraged or fearful he was at times, he was open with God and always trusted Him to be faithful to him. He was also determined to praise God regardless of his circumstances.
I believe it was emotionally healthy for David to express to God how he really felt. It was a way of releasing his negative feelings so they couldn’t harm his inner being while he was waiting for God’s deliverance. David frequently told God how he felt or what his circumstances were and then said something like, “But I will trust God. I will praise God, Who helps me.”
I would never suggest that you stuff your feelings inside and not express them. That wouldn’t be healthy. My purpose is not to encourage you to pretend everything is fine while you feel anger, sadness, or some other emotion. People who repress pain and never learn to deal with it properly eventually either explode or implode. Neither is a good choice. We don’t want to deny the existence of emotions, but we can deny them the right to rule over us.
Instead, follow David’s example and express yourself honestly to God or to a person you trust whom God wants to use. To express yourself in a godly way, always remember to put your hope in God—to praise Him and speak of His goodness and unfailing love.
Prayer of the Day: Thank You, Lord, for listening to me when I express my feelings. No matter how I feel, help me always to remember Your love and to praise You.
Joyce Meyer is one of the world’s leading practical Bible teachers. She is a New York Times bestselling author, and her books have helped millions of people find hope and restoration through Jesus Christ. Through Joyce Meyer Ministries, she teaches on a number of topics with a particular focus on how the Word of God applies to our everyday lives. Her candid communication style allows her to share openly and practically about her experiences, and helps others understand how to apply biblical principles to their own lives. Christ, amen.