So what is the first thing you do when you've had a crummy day, when you're feeling hurt, you're at your lowest low, you feel stuck, or things just aren't fitting together? The obvious answer to that is we go to God, right. We lean on Him for our strength, support and encouragement. After all, He is our source. I gotta admit, though, that sure isn't alllllways what I've been doing. It's also not always what I've been encouraging others to do. If someone comes to me saying that they totally need to "just vent", my response is usually," go ahead dump it all out". But, wait a minute (for realz) dump it all out? Do you know what happens if you dump out all your garbage on someone or if you let someone dump it on you? You're both full of garbage that's what happens. Think about it. Would you let someone come into your house and just dump out their trash for the week all over your clean floor and leave it there. Umm No. So here is where the worship part comes in.You might be thinking what does worship have to do with venting/complaining. Worship is the exact opposite of that,isn't it. It's about hope/joy and bringing honor to God. Yes, it is. But, God's been showing me some more...
When you think of the book of Psalms what do you think of? I primarily think of praise. Phrases like "Make a joyful noise unto the Lord!"and "Give thanks to the Lord for he is good!"or,"God is our refuge and strength!".But, there is a lot more in there. Take Psalm 13 for example it starts out, "Oh Lord, how long will you forget me? Forever? How long will you look the other way? How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul, with sorrow in my heart everyday? How long will my enemy have the upper hand?"
One year I made a new years resolution to write a worship song out of each of the psalms in the bible. When I got to Psalms like this, though, I was completely stumped. I can't sing that to God I thought. No way, I can't complain to God like that. Then I looked back at the begining of such Psalms as #13 and it says "For the choir director sung to the tune of.." and I realized that David is singing his junk to God. In the very most real and honest way he is pouring out his heart in worship. And it must have been ok with God. In fact, the bible says David was a man after God's own heart.
So one day I was driving in the car stuck in a very low low. It was one of those days, weeks , times... I felt like I was at a breaking point. I needed someone to talk to. So, I called my husband,no answer. I called my sister, no answer. I called my best friend, no answer. "Alright, God your all I've got", I said. Then I started to pour out my heart in gory, honest, country song like worship. And do you know what happened??? I felt absolutely ridiculous. And that's why it worked. You see if I'd have gotten my sister on the phone that day and complained out all my woes to just her she would have given me empathy. She would have said something like, "I'm so sorry you poor thing that shouldn't have happened to you". Then I would have left that conversation feeling justified and feeling like ya, she's right this should not have happened to me. But, when I poor out all my complaints and hurts to God in worship like David did it always ends up turning back around into praise. Because when I sing things like," I feel like your never there and everything is all wrong, my car broke down ect,ect.." to THE GOD OF THE UNIVERSE. I feel ridiculous and the truth starts to pour out in praise instead. "God I know you will never leave me or forsake me, God I know you are good ect, ect. ". That's exactly what happened to David in the Psalms as well. For example, the end of Psalms 13 says, "But I trust in your unfailing love. I will rejoice because you have rescued me. I sing to the Lord because he is good to me.".
We all need each other and we need help and encouragement from others. But, let's not dump our junk in our friends living room. Rather, take it to the only one who can handle it, heal us, and turn it back into praise. Make him your first phone call and pour out your soul to him first like David did. It really works.
