Playlist: Sad Songs — Tuesday
Psalm 22:24
For he has not ignored or belittled the suffering of the needy. He has not turned his back on them, but has listened to their cries for help. (NLT)
We all have words that stick with us like gum on a shoe—words said to or about us that have forever pierced our hearts in the worst way and live rent-free in our minds. Oftentimes those words aren’t even intended to hurt us, but they do.
Several years ago when I was in a difficult season, word got around to me about a comment made by a friend of mine, who was comparing me to someone else going through a similarly difficult season. This friend apparently said that I “wore my emotions” more than the other person, and according to the messenger (who I really wish had never told me any of this), my friend implied that I’d been more of a burden than the other person had. And while those words were never meant to reach my ears, they did, and they devastated me.
Ever since then, I’ve struggled to be fully transparent with people, even those closest to me. There’s been a constant fear of my personal burdens becoming a burden to them, or them thinking I’m whiny, weak, and ungrateful for just how good I have it. Even though I have wonderful friends who genuinely value my honesty on hard days and always validate my feelings, I still hear a nagging voice in my head that says, “You shouldn’t have told them that. You shouldn’t feel sad or frustrated about this. Other people have way worse problems than you.” And only recently have I realized that, not only has this been affecting the way I open up to others, but it’s also been affecting the way I express myself to God, out of fear that my emotions will somehow disappoint Him.
But in His great mercy, He’s recently been working to untangle these lies that have found their way into my heart. And perhaps he wants to do that for you, too. I don’t know who needs to hear this today, but friends… God’s not comparing you to other people, nor is He comparing your pain to theirs.
As the lyrics of Psalm 42 show us, there will be moments, days, and seasons when we are “deeply discouraged” and “only have tears for food.” But as our verse today tells us, He doesn’t belittle our pain. No matter what it is, it matters to Him. So you can approach His throne with confidence and sing the song of your heart to Him—the whole song. He wants to hear it all.
Tuesday’s Reflection
What sadness or pain have you been holding back from God? He already knows, but still, talk to Him about it. Let yourself rest in His genuine care for you and whatever is on your heart, and invite Him to speak truth into any lies you’ve been believing.