The Book of PsalmsSample

I Am Not the Only One

The book of Psalms reveals the raw feelings and emotions—both negative and positive—that God’s people struggle with.

One of the worst feelings that a young Christ-follower can experience is this gnawing question, “Am I the only one? Am I the only one feeling like this? Am I the only one wrestling with these temptations?”

As we read Psalms, we discover we are not the only ones who have doubts occasionally. We are not the only ones struggling in our mind. We are not the only ones experiencing emotional or spiritual ups and downs.

Are there times when you feel God has abandoned you? Join the club. 3000 years ago, so did King David. He asked the same questions you might ask.

David not only admitted his struggles, he wrote them down for all posterity so we could all read the hassles that he was having. There were other occasions when he would triumphantly declare, “But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high.”

Are there times when you feel like you are drowning in problems? Join the club. David said, “Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck.” It sounds like he felt he was going down for the last time. Then on another occasion he prays, “The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear?”

In the midst of all these ups and downs he brought and confessed his turmoil to God. We can thank God he wrote these things down so that when we are going through discouragement it can encourage us, so we don’t feel like we are the only ones.

Have you ever felt like you’re overwhelmed or haunted by guilt or the feeling that you’re not good enough? You’re not the only one. David said his shameful deed haunted him day and night. But then David confessed the forgiveness of God in Psalms 32:1-2: “Blessed [or happy] is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not count against him.” 

Today, the Lord doesn’t count your sin against you because it was counted on Jesus Christ 2000 years ago on the cross. Do not keep your emotions to yourself. Come before the Lord and pour out your heart to Him as David did. You will come out blessed or happy just as David did.