Look Away

Have you ever felt like God can't hear you? Do you ever think that He has looked away or isn't paying attention? It was this thinking that David shared in Psalm 13 that made me feel like I wasn't the only one that ever felt that way. 

I had read Psalm 13 many times and even sang versions of it as a church worship leader. But when I hit the dark night of the soul, it began to ring louder in my soul. David was in despair as he cried out How long will You look the other way? If nothing else, I realized that God didn't strike David dead for asking it and that He let it be included in the Bible. David expresses some of the things we think, but are indirectly told we can't ask. 

David wasn't afraid to speak his mind. To ask hard questions like,

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 every day?

How long will my enemy have the upper hand?

Those are some very serious questions. They are heartfelt and deep-rooted. But what I really love about it is that David was so comfortable with God that he felt he could share his soul. He was open, raw, and real. David didn't hold back.  That takes me back to a verse in Psalm 9. In verse 12, David says, He does not forget (or ignore) the cry of the humble. How interesting is that? 

Do you ever feel schizo? One minute, David is asking God where He is and if He's listening. The next, he's declaring that God won't look away, He won't ignore His children. I don't have to tell you how many times I've run through that crazy cycle. One second, I'm so upset and frustrated I say I'm not going to pray anymore. The next second, something comes up, and my heart turns immediately to prayer. I have to laugh at myself. 

I think these types of emotional fluctuations are a normal part of caregving. But I love, love, love that God never ignores me. He never says, "No, you said you weren't going to pray anymore." He just welcomes my little schizo soul with open arms and a warm heart.

Today, I'll remind myself that God gets us, no matter how scattered we are emotionally or mentally. He can see past all that and into our hearts. He celebrates that we are willing to share our huge fluctuations with Him! I'll think about He is the only constant in our crazy task-filled days, and He's happy to be there for us. I think I'll lean in a little today and trust Him just a little more. Will you join me?

 Peace Out! It's in the Bible is a 31-day devotional that is focused on letting God's peace reign in our hearts - no matter what. You can get the eBook from my shop at Buy Me A Coffee. Or the print and kindle versions are available in my Amazon Shop.