Letting Out the Hurt {Lois Ormsby}

In my first post of 2018, I mentioned how I’m learning to avoid venting unnecessary words to my husband.  This is something that is easy to do…but sometimes, it IS necessary to “vent”.  I wanted to clarify that with some Biblical examples of people who let their hurt out:

• Hannah, when she poured her heart’s burden upon the LORD
• Elijah, when he complained to the LORD that he was the only one who had not bowed to Baal
• David, throughout the Psalms, wrote very real and raw outpourings of his heart
• Jesus: “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”

God does not want us influencing others to think ill of people.  However, He also does not want us to keep hurt inside of us and pretend like nothing has happened.  That very quickly leads to bitterness and a superficial way of living.  Constantly trying to cover hurt is exhausting, not to mention dishonest.

If your heart is burdened, go first to the LORD about it.  He wants you to come to Him and pour your heart out to Him!

 “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”  Matthew 11:28-30

“Trust in Him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us.  Seals.” Psalm 62:8

Next, remember that you are not the only one who has gone through whatever trial you find yourself in.  There are people around you – especially in your church – that have been through similar trials and can relate to you in a way that others cannot.  This is one reason that being involved in church is so important…God says in 2 Corinthians 1:4 that “…we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted by God.”  One way He uses our trials for good is letting us encourage someone else going through the same trial!  That human recognition and understanding, that feeling of “I get you” is God-ordained.  He knows that connection means a lot to us.

You must be willing to talk about your hurts with a mind willing to finding comfort God’s way.  If you aren’t, the times you do open up to someone will simply be venting.  Venting doesn’t solve any problems; but real, raw, heart to heart conversations lead toward solutions.  Now, I am not advocating being someone who constantly complains to others about their personal struggles.  What I am advocating is that if you feel torn up inside, you need to go to someone for help.  Don’t be too proud to ask someone to help you through the floodwaters of confused, hurt, difficult emotions.  Hurt is a real thing in our world – and God has real ways to help us through those emotions.  But, He doesn’t force those ways upon us; He leaves it up to us to seek His ways, whereby our hurts may be soothed and our problems may be remedied.