Although most of us were taught to tell the truth, many of us struggle as we get older with being honest with God (and maybe with ourselves too). Have you ever had a negative reaction to a situation or person, but when you pray about it (if you do), you pray the way you think you should feel? Interestingly, this is not the biblical example. In many of the books in the Bible, people share openly with God their anger, their hate, and their depression. Psalms is one of these books. In fact, there are some Psalms that are so honest, we cringe at their blatant declarations of hatred.
“In these ancient songs we find honest, gut-level responses to the real-life circumstances of actual human beings—joy, anger, bitterness, guilt, resentment, vindictiveness, and every other emotion that we human beings feel. It is out of the honesty of their emotions that the psalmists express their responses to life,” says Bill Crowder, author of Singing the Songs of the Brokenhearted. “And when the psalmists speak to God, they do so without any attempt at religious propriety. There is no attempt to swath everything in spirituality. There is no interest in saving face. There is just honesty.”
Crowder explores the Psalms showing how the honesty of our prayers can help us through the ups and downs of our lives. How are you dealing with circumstances and people who break your heart? How honest are your prayers?
(If you are interested in doing a review of Singing the Songs of the Brokenhearted by Bill Crowder, I still have several more books to give out. Please email me at publicity@dhpinreview.com with your name, blog address, & mailing address.)
