The Extraordinary Power of Praise: A 5 Day Devotional From the PsalmsExemplo

Praising God Allows You to Vent Your Frustrations

There was a season in my life that felt very dark. Cancer left me completely exhausted. I wondered during that season, “Is it authentic to praise God when I feel this awful?” I mean, I hardly felt like jumping up and down and shouting, “Hallelujah, I have cancer!” As I studied the book of Psalms, I discovered that many of the Psalms were laments. A lamenting prayer is a prayer that is filled with questions, frustrations and doubts. What I discovered about the Psalmists is that they didn’t hold back with God. When they were frustrated, they expressed their feelings. Often their worship was their weeping (Psalm 42:3). At other times they vented all their anger to the Lord. For example, at one point in his life, David felt so frustrated that he prayed in Psalm 58:60, “Break the teeth in their mouths, O God!” I remember when I first read those words, thinking, “Are we allowed to pray that way?”

God desires your honest worship. If you’re frustrated, angry, or just sad, He invites you to bring those feelings to Him. Weep it all out before Him. Then, follow the example of the Psalmists. Shift your focus to praise. God promises to be close to the brokenhearted and save those who are crushed (Psalm 34:18). Praise and worship Him today that He keeps His promises.

Selah – Pause and Reflect: Do you feel like in order to be a “good Christian” you have to be happy all the time? When has God met you when you were in the thick of grieving?

Prayer of Praise: Lord Jesus, I praise You that You were a man of sorrows and very familiar with grief, when You walked this earth (Isaiah 53:3). Thank You that You see every tear I shed and You hear every angry word I mutter. I praise You that You invite me to be gut level honest with You with all of my feelings. Thank You, that as I pour out my sorrow in worship before You, You heal my broken heart. I praise You Lord that You comfort me as a loving compassionate Father. Thank You for being close when I cry. I worship You as the God of all compassion!

Psalm 34:18, "The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."