(“In Times Of Trouble”)^1**

(Psalm 22:1-2, NIV)

“Ah, whither could we flee for aid,

When tempted, desolate, dismayed,

Or how the hosts of hell defeat,

Had suffering saints no mercy seat?”¹

(A) INTRODUCTION

(1) The scene is tragic to say the least – a young African girl sits in the scorching sun, because she’s too weak to stand. Flies land unmolested on her face. Her bloated stomach and sunken eyes tell the story – she is starving. In fact, it’s been two days since she last ate – and then it was only a smattering of pasty oatmeal.¹

Finally, a young man reaches for her hand and takes her into the tent that serves as a makeshift clinic. “I’m next for food,” she thinks. “But why are they measuring me? Why are they weighing me? Just give me food!”¹

At the other end of the tent are two exits. Some children are being sent to the left, but most are being carried out to the right. The little girl is taken to the right, put on a truck and driven away. As horrible as it sounds, when there’s not enough food, the weakest (like this little girl) are carried off and left to die.¹

(2) Situations like this are hard to ignore. Even the most optimistic, light-hearted person is shaken by the sight of starving children. An assortment of feelings rise up within us¹ – we mourn over the suffering and loss of life – we’re frustrated by our inability to remedy the situation – we may even wonder why God allows such things to happen.²

What’s the best way to handle feelings like these? Is there any legitimate outlet for the troubles that plague our hearts? Along with working for solutions to such problems, we should also turn to God in prayer. Last time we saw that our negative emotions are a legitimate part of prayer. Now, we will try and lay down some guidelines for talking with God about our troubles.²

(B) COMING AS WE ARE²

(1) Many believers insist Christians should be completely satisfied with their situation in life. “Make sure your attitude is right before you come to God,” we’re told. While this principle sounds good, there may be times when it’s actually harmful. Again and again, examples of prayer in Scripture indicate God wants us to turn to Him when we are troubled. Even when we are deeply disturbed, He invites us to draw near to Him in prayer.²

(2) Many psalms illustrate God’s desire to hear us when we are burdened by life’s problems. Psalm 22, for example, indicates we can come to Him with our troubled hearts. The opening verse has a familiar ring:

(Psalm 22:1a, NIV).

Countless Old Testament believers uttered those words as they went through times of hardship and/or separation from God. Today, of course, we know Jesus quoted this prayer during His most agonizing moments on the cross (Matthew 27:46). To be sure, it was because He was bearing God’s judgment for our sin – a judgment we will never have to bear because of His sacrifice. Nevertheless, His sinless example shows us prayers like the one found in Psalm 22 are valid patterns for us to follow.²

(3) In Psalm 22 David openly expressed several negative attitudes to God.²

(a) First, he felt bad about himself.² As he looked at himself, he was displeased with what he saw. Having lost all sense of personal dignity, he exclaimed:

(Psalm 22:6a. NIV).

He also described his poor physical condition, saying:

“I am poured out like water,

(Psalm 22:14-15, NASU).

We find similar expressions in other psalms, like Psalm Fifty-Five, where David said:

(Psalm 55:2, NIV).³

In Psalm Ninety, Moses wrote:

“The length of our days is seventy years –

(Psalm 90:10, NIV).

From these (and other) examples, we can pinpoint one source of our troubles in life – we mourn over our own fallen condition – we grieve over the disappointments and discouragements of life – we become frustrated and perplexed – we don’t sense the dignity that’s supposed to be ours as creatures made in the image of God.³

(b) Second, David expressed displeasure with his outward circumstances. He told God about the contempt people had heaped upon him, saying in part:

“(I am) scorned by men and despised by the people.

(Psalm 22:6b-7, NIV).

In verses twelve and sixteen, he described his enemies as strong, vicious animals, saying:

“Many bulls surround me;

(Psalm 22:12, 16, NIV).³

We can find similar depictions of outward circumstances in other psalms as well. For example, in Psalm Fifty-Five, David claimed he was troubled because of the actions of those around him, saying in part:

“My thoughts trouble me and I am distraught

(Psalm 55:2b-3, NIV).⁴

Surely we can identify with words like these. We, too, may have been falsely accused – perhaps our job was taken from us – or our friends may have let us down – accidents have occurred – loved ones have suffered and died. All these situations trouble us. They steal our happiness, and leave us feeling angry and/or frustrated. The Psalms teach that we should bring our feelings about this fallen world to God in prayer. He wants us to tell Him how we feel about the evil circumstances we face.⁴

(c) Third (back in Psalm Twenty-Two), David also expressed his troubled feelings about God. You will notice the psalm begins with a question – Why?

“My God, my God, WHY have You forsaken me?

(Psalm 22:1-2, NIV).

In this instance, one of the things troubling David was God’s apparent unwillingness to answer his prayers. He didn’t doubt God’s holiness, but from David’s limited point of view, the way God was acting in the present stood in sharp contrast to the way He acted in the past. In the past, when Israel cried out in trouble, God answered – look at verses four and five:

(Psalm 22:4-5, NIV).

At the moment, however, God seemed silent and inactive. Indeed, David’s dismay over God’s silence is amplified by his long relationship with God – for he says in verse ten:

“From birth I was cast upon You;

(Psalm 22:10, NIV).⁴

That’s why he cried out in verse eleven:

“Do not be far from me,

(Psalm 22:11, NIV).⁵

(4) Obviously we have to be careful here, because the Psalms never sanction disrespectful anger or rebellion in prayer. On the contrary, David and the other psalmists’ devotion to God is evident by their constant appeal to Him for help in desperate situations.⁵

Pratt writes that “every parent can spot a defiant, stubborn child who kicks and screams when he doesn’t get his way. Yet, these same parents can also discern the cry of confusion and dismay that comes from a child seeking an answer to frustrating and/or perplexing circumstances.”⁵

The same thing is true of God. He knows when we’re rebelling, and when we’re seeking His help in the face of a desperate situation. It’s in this latter sense that we are encouraged in Scripture to be open about our attitudes toward God – and to communicate our questions and/or frustrations about Him in our prayers.⁵

(5) It’s surprising, though, how many Christians try and hide their genuine feelings from God. Sometimes we conceal our true emotions from our friends and neighbors. Even husbands and wives may not fully reveal their feelings to each other.⁵

Unfortunately, we often put on a happy face as we approach God in prayer in a vain attempt to cover up attitudes we deem inappropriate.⁵ I said “vain”, because God knows what’s in our heart. We may fool other people with smiles and chit-chat, but God knows when we’re troubled. Hence, it’s far better to deal with these attitudes honestly in prayer, than try and hide them. Prayer should be an open channel for talking to God about the confusion and troubles that inevitably enter all our lives.⁶

(C) PUTTING IT INTO WORDS⁶

(1) Many Christians have difficulty putting their troubles into words, even when they pray. At home and/or church we’ve picked up the idea that only positive words are acceptable in prayer – hence, we never learn how to express our negative feelings to God. Psalm Twenty-Two provides some guidelines that can help us communicate these feelings more effectively.⁶

(2) For example, note the unique way David speaks of himself. He didn’t simply say, “Lord, I’m sad” – instead, he used a number of images to paint a vivid portrait of himself. He spoke of himself as “a worm” in verse six (Psalm 22:6) – thereby indicating his condition was so bad he found it hard to think of himself as a man. In verse fourteen he described himself as melting away like “wax” (Psalm 22:14) – meaning his troubles had taken all his strength away. In verse seventeen he depicted himself as a starving man whose “bones” can be counted (Psalm 22:17) – meaning, perhaps, that his plight had robbed him of all his self-respect. Throughout the psalm, we find images like these being drawn in dramatic and memorable detail.⁶

(3) You and I can also use vivid images and/or detailed descriptions of our condition when we pray.⁶

Facing rejection, for example, may leave us feeling like “trash.” If that’s how we really feel, we should express that sentiment to God in prayer – we should tell Him about how useless and/or worthless we feel.⁶

If we’re extremely lonely, we might compare our condition to a thirsty, withering plant. If that’s how we feel, we should communicate our intense longing for a friend and/or companion in dramatic terms.⁶

Prayer gives us the opportunity to tell God what we really think and/or how we really feel about ourselves. Dramatic descriptions can help us lay our burden at Christ’s feet, thereby availing ourselves more fully of His comfort and healing grace.⁶

(4) David described his trouble over outward circumstances in dramatic detail. He didn’t simply say, “Lord, things are pretty bad down here” – rather, he talked about how he was being mocked and insulted.⁶ In verse eight, he even went so far as to quote the mockery being directed at him, saying:

“He trusts in the LORD;

(Psalm 22:8, NIV).⁷

In verses twelve and thirteen he described his enemies as “bulls” and “lions” (Psalm 22:12-13) – and then went on to illustrate how they had thoroughly ravaged him, saying:

“They divide my garments among them

(Psalm 22:18, NIV).⁷

(5) You and I are invited to relate similarly moving and/or specific accounts of the events in our lives. From small irritations to major crises, we can use vivid pictures and/or metaphors when describing our circumstances to God in prayer.⁷

(6) Observe the way David expressed his attitudes toward God.⁷

First, he addressed Him in a personal way, calling Him “My God, my God” (Psalm 22:1a). Then he went on to note various ways God’s action (or inaction) seemed to be out of accord with this personal relationship. He described how God didn’t seem to be responding to his prayers, even though he cried out to Him day and night (Psalm 22:2). He pointed out the difference between how God was dealing with him at the moment, and how He dealt with Israel in the past (Psalm 22:4-5). He also contrasted his former relationship with God with his present condition (Psalm 22:9-10).⁷

David’s problem seems to have been one of confusion and/or frustration. God’s actions (or lack thereof) seemed to belie His divine nature and promises. Many times we face similar questions. When that happens, we can open ourselves more fully to God through detailed depictions of His dealings with us.⁷

(7) Every believer will have to find his or her own ways of communicating their troubles in prayer. Dramatic speech doesn’t come as naturally to some as it does to others. If our prayers are going to be an expression of our heart, they must reflect our own personality and/or interests. Still, the example of Psalm Twenty-Two demonstrates that detailed and/or dramatic descriptions of our troubles are appropriate ways of approaching God in prayer. Consequently, when we pray we may find it helpful to give careful attention to our laments about ourselves, our circumstances, and our God.⁸

(D) LIMITATIONS ON NEGATIVES⁸

(1) While honesty is an important aspect of prayer, many portions of Scripture warn us about going too far in expressing our negative feelings. Freedom without restraint in any area inevitably leads to excess. And this is true even when we pray. If we’re not careful, expressing our troubles to God can become an excuse for rebellion. Hence, we need to heed biblical warnings about irreverent grumbling against God. Psalm Ninety-Five gives us such a warning, saying in part:

“Today, if you hear His voice,

(Psalm 95:7b-9).

The New Testament also exhorts us to avoid the example of Israel in the wilderness, saying in one place:

“And do not grumble, as some of them did – and were

(I Corinthians 10:10, NIV).

Both these passages warn us not to imitate the rebellious grumbling of the Israelites.⁸

(2) By comparing the grumbling of Israel in the Books of Exodus and Numbers with Psalm Twenty-Two, we can establish some boundaries for our negative attitudes. Indeed, we will find there are least three limitations we must put on the way we go about expressing our troubles to God in prayer.⁸

(a) First, we need to maintain our basic trust in God’s goodness.⁸

As the Israelites wandered in the wilderness, many of their complaints questioned God’s faithfulness (see Exodus 17:2, 7). They actually turned from faith to rebellion.⁹

By contrast, in Psalm Twenty-Two, David never abandoned his belief in God’s trustworthiness. In fact, he demonstrated his loyalty by turning to God for help. He trusts that somehow God is still concerned with him despite his difficult circumstances.⁹

Likewise, when we face situations that seem to hide God’s faithfulness from our sight, we should communicate our doubts and concerns to Him. In spite of our troubles, however, we must always remember God is faithful. When we pray, then, we are not to question the reality of His love, even though we may ask how certain events harmonize with that love. In this way, we bring our laments to Him without denying His holiness and/or His faithfulness. We talk honestly with Him in the hope He will once again make His goodness plain.⁹

(b) Second, expressing negative attitudes in prayer must not be motivated by greed or selfishness.⁹

In the wilderness, the Israelites were not satisfied with God’s provision of manna – indeed, they complained about the lack of meat (see Numbers 11:4-35).⁹

This greed stands in sharp contrast to David’s attitude in Psalm Twenty-Two. He approached God with a genuine need, not some selfish desire for luxury. He had been mocked, abused, and threatened. He was not demanding wealth or fame. His needs were genuine and his negative attitude stemmed from a desire for truth to prevail.⁹

When you and I bring our negative attitudes to God, we must be careful to focus on our needs, not our selfish desires. Greed is like a rotting cancer to prayer. It can turn the plea of a humble child into the tantrum of a spoiled brat. We complain because we don’t have a brand new house. We grumble because we didn’t get to take that grand vacation. These things can be wholesome pleasures IF they come our way in God’s providence – however, we must not put God to the test by complaining about not having more when we already have so much. We must be careful to exclude selfish complaints from our prayers.⁹

(c) Third, negative feelings must be accompanied by a willingness to receive God’s response with gratitude.⁹

In the wilderness, the Israelites often grumbled against God’s commands (see Numbers 14:1-15).⁹ In other words, they weren’t open to His instruction, correction, or further enlightenment on matters that should have been of great concern to them.¹⁰

Psalm Twenty-Two illustrates the opposite attitude. David came to God with questions and complaints, but he was also ready to listen and learn. After twenty-two verses of intense negative feelings, his attitude was transformed. Hence, he promised:

“I will declare Your name to my brothers;

(Psalm 22:22, NIV).¹⁰

As we will see in a later message, this transformation may have resulted from a word of assurance coming to David through a priest, much like Eli assured Hannah in First Samuel chapter one (see I Samuel 1:17). Whatever the case, though, David’s words of praise show his readiness to have his attitude changed. He was not being obstinate and/or rebellious. He sought God in his troubles, and gladly received His blessing.¹⁰

Today, we too must avoid stubborn complaints. The Holy Spirit uses all kinds of things to confirm God’s love for us – reflection on Scripture, encouragement from fellow believers, and our own inward wrestling with the issues all help us see God still cares for us. Like David, we must be ready to be taught by God.¹⁰ If we are, we can gain new perspectives and outlooks on life that will help change our attitude. God invites us to express our negative feelings to Him – but, having done so, we must be ready to receive the help and provision He offers.¹¹

(E) SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION (1) This evening, then, we have seen that prayer is the channel through which we may express our deepest troubles to God, albeit always honestly and with an attitude of devotion. (2) As we learn to do this, we will find that prayer can become a source of strength and encouragement for us in times of trouble.¹¹

**IS MESSAGE IS BASED ALMOST ENTIRELY ON THE SEVENTH CHAPTER OF THE BOOK BY RICHARD PRATT, JR. ENTITLED, “PRAY WITH YOUR EYES OPEN.” IT WAS PRESENTED TO THE CONGREGATION AT WESTMINSTER PCA IN ALAMOGORDO, NM ON MARCH 13^th FOR THEIR INSTRUCTION AND EDIFICATION, AS PART OF THE CHURCH’S EMPHASIS ON PRAYER IN 2005. A DISCUSSION OF THE QUESTIONS FOUND AT THE END OF THE CHAPTER FOLLOWED. THE CONGREGATION WAS FULLY AWARE OF WHERE THE MATERIAL CAME FROM, AND MANY HAVE PURCHASED A COPY OF THE BOOK FOR THEIR OWN USE.