God's Invitation to Us

And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore. I Samuel 1:10 (KJV)

For any who are battling hurt, rage, anger, disappointment, depression, or extreme sorrow, Hannah becomes an example. When she came to the temple that day it was with a heart full of every imaginable emotion. The baggage she carried had been filled with the pain of infertility, continual verbal abuse of a family member, and a husband who did not understand why she was so upset. (I Samuel 1:1-8) She had hit her breaking point and resorted to the only One who understood her turmoil and could act on her behalf. She held nothing back as she poured out her complaint to God. There was no guardedness to her prayer, no denial of thoughts and feelings, no suppressed or repressed emotions. She was transparent before God. It may have taken her a while to get to that point but once she was there everything was brought out in the open. This was a woman who knew how to make God her refuge!

When was the last time you opened up to God on this level? When was the last time you came before Him with raw emotions, unhindered thoughts, and complete exposure of your internal world? It has taken many years for me to realize the necessity of such prayer times and to understand that God is actually inviting me to come to Him in that way. How it must have grieved God to see me with a guardedness when I approached Him. How He must have ached to see that I would hold back tears, keep back my true feelings, and lack an assurance that I was safe in His presence. I had somehow learned to play “dress up” and “pretend” with a God who could see right through me. But the masquerade ended when I began to realize God’s love is unconditional and His desire for me to come to Him with honesty is sincere.

I now know what it is like to cry so hard on His shoulders that my eyes are swollen and my throat hurts. He comforts and heals as I express my true feelings and admit what I am really thinking. I can now attest to the fact that not only can He handle it, He invites it. Each time I get out into the light what has been locked in the darkness, God amazes me!

Father, You have brought me from a guarded place into Your embrace. You taught me the necessity and appropriateness of my tears. Thank you for helping me to remove the “Off Limits” sign from my heart. Amen.