When It’s Okay to Let Loose
Everyone has an opinion these days. Or at the very least, we’re able to hear (and see) a lot more of them thanks to technology and social media. Most opinions are coupled with an angry tone (or emoticons) and are fueled by frustration over circumstances, and even hatred for certain people who we are convinced are evil monsters. There’s no wonder why feelings of anxiety and depression have increased exponentially.
Yet we desire to just let loose, to express our rage. Because if we keep it in, that can’t be healthy either, right?
I love the book of Psalms. It’s a wonderful collection of Hebrew poetry, full of emotion, that ranges from doubting to thanksgiving, from debilitating defeat to powerful victories, and from laments to joyful worship. I think we would all struggle more to know how to relate to God – and how He relates to us – without them. Scholars typically divide the Psalms into genres (though the categories are somewhat fluid). Some are more easily distinguishable than others. A worshipful psalm is full of shouts of praise. They take us to the heights of heaven. And then you have those psalms where the author is crying out against the injustices and violence of his enemies – and longing to see them destroyed (sometimes with some very graphic imagery). These take us to the depths of the very relatable human experience. And if we’re honest with ourselves, we’ve probably had times when we wanted to express ourselves like that. Maybe you do right now.
Well, I say let loose! Just, not on social media.
What sets these psalms apart from our everyday tendency to shout at each other, and to condemn the actions of those we perceive to be our enemies, is that their complaints and frustrations are directed toward God. They are asking the One perfect in righteousness and justice and power to defend them.
“Let their lying lips be silenced, for with pride and contempt they speak arrogantly against the righteous” (Psalm 31:18).
“Contend, O LORD, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me. Take up shield and buckler; arise and come to my aid. Brandish spear and javelin against those who pursue me. Say to my soul, ‘I am your salvation’.” (Psalm 35:1-3).
“Let death take my enemies by surprise; let them go down alive to the grave, for evil finds lodging among them” (Psalm 55:15).
God is not offended if you call out to Him in these ways. He is God, after all – He already knows what it is in your heart and mind, better than you know yourself. He’s not surprised by your anger, whether it’s righteous indignation or misguided rage. But I believe with all my heart that He is glad when we take EVERYTHING to Him in prayer. When we talk to Him, with Him, we are declaring that we trust Him in our difficult situations. Trust is what moves His mighty hand.
When we communicate honestly with the Lord, and we’re willing to listen to Him in return, He will speak to us – through His Word, through others, to our hearts. He might convict our waywardness so that we find forgiveness and healing and a proper frame of mind. Or He might work directly in our situations and indeed intervene for us against those who have treated us unjustly.
The key: It is the Lord who wills and who acts. And His ways are always perfect.
Let’s learn from the psalmists, who instead of taking matters into their own hands and announcing their anger to the world, poured out their honest hearts to God and saw Him act on their behalf.
“Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall. But you, O God, will bring down the wicked into the pit of corruption; bloodthirsty and deceitful men will not live out half their days. But as for me, I trust in you.” (Psalm 55: 22-23).
“Love the LORD, all his saints! The LORD preserves the faithful, but the proud he pays back in full. Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD.” (Psalm 31:23-24)