Tell Him What Hurts

A child stood before me, quite distressed. Over five years old, but unwilling to talk about the source of those tears. 

“I can help, if you tell me what’s bothering you.” I searched for the cause. Was it pain, or worry? Fear?

Finally, it was as if my coaxing words clicked and I heard, “I don’t know how to say it.” Well, at least we were getting somewhere.

I’ve been carrying a burden lately. Do you ever do that? We’re supposed to cast our cares at Jesus’s feet because He cares for us. (see 1 Peter 5:7) And, like that child, I don’t always know what is wrong. I just know I hurt.

But as I was trying to minister to the kiddo, God spoke to me: Tell Me what’s wrong. I can help.

He also aches to help. As a mother and a compassionate adult, I know I can comfort children and I want to. But I need to know the source before I can be effective. God, on the other hand, knows exactly what’s going on, even better than we do. So, why does He want us to express it?

For one thing, it helps us understand ourselves.

For another, knowledge is power. We name the source of our discomfort and suddenly it can’t lurk and torment us. We’ve brought it into the light.

And finally, God wants us to share our pain because He wants intimacy with us. He wants us to express what’s on and in our hearts, what’s filling up our thoughts or bogging us down. What’s worrying us.

Trust in Him at all times, you people;

Pour out your heart before Him;

God is a refuge for us. Selah 

(Psalm 62:8 NKJV)

Just as I read that verse this morning, it hit me. Yes, God wants to help us. He is able to hold the burdens, to carry them, to actually do something about them (when we are so often unable to), but He also wants us to uncrowd our hearts. I realize uncrowd isn’t a word, but follow me on this. He wants our focus on Him because He knows what good that will do us. When our hearts are preoccupied with worry or fear, we’ve less capacity to worship Him. All our energy is taken up and we’re weary and lacking victory.

But when we share our burdens with Him, He becomes our focus. He is magnified. He is able to move in the situation, or at least give us grace to wait while He sets things into place. Then we can carry on, feeling lighter, learning trust, and holding onto hope. We carry on with a renewed intimacy between us and God.

So, if you’re carrying a burden today, talk with God. Entrust your concerns to Him. Pour out your heart to Him because He cares for you.