Pouring Out In Order To Be Filled
Oh we have arrived at the book in the bible that speaks of deep sorrow, Lamentations. Not usually the first book a person runs to read when wanting to study the bible or have a quiet time with the Lord. To lament is to passionately express grief and sorrow. Not only did I feel the deep grief and sorrow in the couple of chapters we read in Lamentations today but in our Psalm as well. I felt I was reading another passage from Lamentations.
There are times for each of us when difficulty, hardship, pain, sorrow, grief, anger, confusion, fear, uncertainty, disappointment or even tragedy seem to steal an unwanted place in our lives. As Christians we are faced with a question; "what do we do with these unwelcomed and often times unwanted circumstances that have weaseled their way in and overshadowed the joy, peace and hope that used to fill our hearts?"
What I see in Lamentations (as I also see in so many of the lamenting Psalms) is a pouring out, a release of ones feelings, frustrations, fears, doubts, and inabilities to the Lord. We can not be filled with what we need to endure and thrive in difficult situations until we have poured out anything that can hinder us. It's like a sour glass of milk. Unless we pour it out and empty it of all those lumpy spoiled chunks that it is holding we are not prepared or ready to filled with a fresh glass of milk. The old curdled pieces will quickly sour anything new that is poured in.
In these chapters of Lamentations and in Psalm 102 we see the writers pouring out their lumpy chunks of grief and feelings and as they do they are being filled, reminded, of the goodness of the one with whom they are speaking to, The Lord. Their focus turns from the source of their grief to the only true source of hope, of joy, of peace, of certainty.
Psalm 102:1 "Hear my prayer, O Lord; let my cry for help come to you."
Lamentations 3:20-21 "I well remember them (the writers afflictions and bitterness), and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I will call to mind and therefore have hope:
The Lord's love is great (vs 22)
The Lord's compassions never fail and they are new for us each morning (vs 22-23)
The Lord's faithfulness is great (we can trust ever promise spoken in the word) (vs 23)
The Lord is our portion (he is our satisfaction and all we need) (vs 24)
The Lord is good we need to keep our hope anchored in him and not loose focus and fail to seek him (vs 25)
The Lord does not forget about us (vs 31)
The Lord will show compassion (vs 32)
The Lord's love is unfailing and great even during the difficult times (vs 32)
Let us examine our ways, let us return to the Lord (refocus) and let us lift up our hearts and hands to God in heaven (vs 40-41)
Call on the name of the Lord and He will hear your plea (vs 55-56)
We are told not to fear because the Lord is in near to us when we call on Him (vs 57)
The Lord redeemed our lives (how much will he do for us in our despair) (vs 58)
The Lord has seen and hears the wrong done to us (vs 59-62)
The Lord sits enthroned forever (he is always able and at the ready) (Ps vs12)
The Lord will have compassion (Ps vs 13)
The Lord will be revered by all nations (his glory knows no bounds) (Ps vs15)
The Lord will respond to the prayer of the destitute and he will not despise (Ps vs 17)
The Lord sees and hears our groans (the laments) of the prisoners (of each of us when we are captives of anything but the Lords love) (Ps vs 20)
The Lord has saved us and given us victory (Ps vs 20)
One day we will live in the presence of the Lord, established in him always in heaven (this life and all its troubles are temporary, there is a hope for us all that awaits us in heaven.) We need to keep an eternal focus during the hardships of this temporary life (vs 28)
Whatever life brings us we need to honestly pour out our hearts and thoughts to the Lord and seek his truth to help bring us comfort and to help keep our sights focused on Him and the blessings he has for us. Don't let the enemy steal your joy or your hope. Pour out your hearts openly and honestly and be ready and willing to be filled with all the Lord has to show you and give you.
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