S2E30 The Psalms - Permission to be Honest.

Hello, and welcome to the Spray UMC Podcast.

I'm Hoyt, and I'm glad you're here.

Today I'd like to talk with you about the book of Psalms and the permission it gives us to be honest with God.

Psalm 121 begins with these familiar words.

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.

My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.

Psalms 121, verses 1-2.

Psalms 121:1–2

There have been mornings when those words have carried me.

Illness, grief, and burdens we cannot control remind us that we need help beyond ourselves.

The psalmist looks beyond the hills to the one who made them.

My help comes from the Lord.

The Psalms have often been called the hymn book of Israel, but they are also an invitation to honest prayer.

They contain joy, gratitude, fear, guilt, confusion, loneliness, and grief.

The writers do not pretend that faith makes life easy.

They bring their whole hearts before God.

David does this in Psalms thirteen.

How long wilt thou forget me, O Lord?

Forever?

How long will thou hide thy face from me?

Perhaps you've asked, Lord, how much longer?

How much longer will this illness continue?

How much longer will this struggle last?

David was not afraid to ask, and God was not offended.

Yet the psalm ends with trust.

But I have trusted in thy mercy.

My heart shall rejoice in thy salvation.

David's circumstances had not changed, but his focus had.

He admitted that he almost lost his footing.

Then he said, Until I went into the sanctuary of God.

That word, until matters.

God did not explain everything, but worship changed Asaph's perspective.

Sometimes we enter church carrying questions and leave with the same circumstances, but a steadier heart because we have remembered that God is still on his throne.

Then there is Psalms eighty-eight, perhaps the darkest Psalm in Scripture.

It speaks of suffering, loneliness, and feeling abandoned.

And it ends without a happy resolution.

Yet God included it in His Word.

That tells us that even when we cannot see the light, He still hears us.

Sometimes faith does not sound like a shout of victory.

Sometimes it's a whisper, Lord, I'm still here.

That too is an honest prayer.

Even Jesus reached for the Psalms on the cross.

My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

Our Savior understands sorrow.

The psalm points us to Christ and reminds us that every season of life has a prayer, joy, repentance, confusion, grief, fear, and praise.

So we return to where we began.

Our help comes from the Lord.

We do not have to hide our hearts from him.

If you are joyful, praise him.

If you have sinned, seek his forgiveness.

If you are confused, trust him.

If you are grieving, rest in his presence.

Whatever you are carrying today, bring it to the Lord.

He knows your heart, understands every tear, and hears every whispered prayer.

The one who watches over his children never sleeps, never grows weary.

Will you pray with me?

Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of the Psalms and for reminding us that we do not have to pretend before you.

You invite us to come honestly, trusting your mercy and unfailing love.

For everyone carrying a heavy burden today, lift their eyes above their circumstances and help them see you, the maker of heaven and earth, from whom our help comes.

Give us faith to trust you, humility to repent, and hearts that praise you in every season.

Thank you for Jesus Christ, who understands our sorrow and brings us to your throne of grace.

We pray in his holy name.

Amen.

If you don't have a home church, we would love for you to come and worship with us at Spray United Methodist Church, located at 803 Morgan Road in Eden, North Carolina.

We are a loving community of faith.

We love God and we love people, all people.

No matter where you've been or what you experienced, you'll find a warm welcome here.

Keep your eyes on the Lord, trust in his promises, and remember, your help comes from the Lord.

May the Lord bless you and keep you.

May the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious unto you.

May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

Thank you for spending these few minutes with me today.

Until next time, God bless you.