Raw Prayers: Praying Through Our PainSample

PERSISTENT PURSUIT

The first two verses of Psalm 22 dive directly into David’s feelings of frustration and abandonment. We don’t know the specific issue he was facing, but we can tell that David had been praying, even pleading, for God to intervene. And we can tell that David thought God wasn’t answering fast enough.

Perhaps you have been there – desperate for relief or an answer. You never thought this ‘thing’ would happen to you, and you certainly did not expect God to feel so distant or be so silent when you needed Him most. Maybe you, too, have asked questions like “Why?”, “Where are you?” and “How long?” Maybe unmet expectations have left you disoriented and on edge. This psalm, and others like it, shows us that we are not alone in these reactions and that expressing these frustrations to God is ok.

However, we should also notice that David didn’t waver from seeking God despite his emotions. He wasn’t just venting. Day and night, he kept praying, “My God, My God….” Even though he didn’t understand what was happening, he still trusted that God was there and that He could save him. He still considered him his God. We can feel the tension; God seemed absent, but David still believed in Him. Despite his disappointment, David valued their relationship. Instead of turning away from God in bitterness or discouragement, he turned toward Him, boldly and persistently expressing how he felt and seeking God’s presence.

God’s love for us is unconditional, and His character is unchanging. David leaned into those truths and taught us that when we wrestle with frustration or struggle through a painful season, we can be fully honest with God and trust in His faithfulness. We can and should persistently pursue Him, even as we wait for deliverance.

Ask Yourself:

-When have unmet expectations or a ‘delayed’ response from God tempted you to give up praying about a specific situation in your life?

-What can help you persistently pursue God even in the waiting?

Pause to pray through your pain: My God, My God – I don’t understand why ________. This makes me feel ________. Nevertheless, I will praise you. You are ________. Help me to sense your presence in the midst of this... In Jesus’ name, Amen.