“Give praise to the Lord” (Jeremiah 20:13) “Cursed be the day I was born” (Jeremiah 20:14) I don’t know whether you have highs and lows in your spiritual experience. Jeremiah did. I know a pastor who also does. From one day to the next, the contrast can be rather dramatic. The key is to process both in honest prayer. How thankful we should be that God is neither offended by our anger nor embarrased by our praise. He, “requires truth in the inward parts” (Psalm 51) All sides of our emotional lives are welcome before this eternally wise and calm God. Today, as you pray, will you ask yourself, “am I being totally honest with God?” “Are the things I am saying what I really feel/want/believe, or what I hope to feel/want/believe?” Tomorrow when we gather for worship, may emotions of every kind be lifted up to Him. Praise. Protest. It just has to be honest.
