“Out of my distress I called on the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me free. The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” – Psalm 118:5-6

“God is a Pretty Cool Confidant”-High School Girl

When I was in high school, my entire grade disowned me because I had taken the wrong side in a break up and one girl had somehow convinced everyone in my grade to stop talking to me. Looking back on that situation and those years of my life, it was such a ridiculous and painful situation. It defined the friends I actually made and how I opened up to them. I wasn’t sure who I could trust and I wasn’t sure who I could open up to. In my mind, I didn’t want to spend the time investing in those relationships only to have them turn around and leave. Was that the healthy outlook? No. But it was the reality of my high school years.

We can look throughout the Old and New Testament and read about people’s conversations with God. And these weren’t just surface level conversations either. Abraham told God he wasn’t sure how he would father an entire nation. Moses told God he couldn’t lead the people of Israel. Job lamented to God about losing literally everything. Elijah went to God when he thought he was worthless. David’s entire adult life was spent going between laying heavy burdens at God’s feet and praising God for all that He’s done. Each time someone brought their very real struggles to God, what happened? God took the burden and he listened.

God isn’t the friend that’s going to stop listening because you picked the wrong side in a breakup. God isn’t the friend who will say they don’t have time for you. Instead, God hears our struggles, He hears our pain. God responded to our brokenness by sending Jesus to die on our behalf so all our suffering will be wiped away someday. God promises to listen to anytime someone calls upon His name in prayer. While God never says He will eliminate the negative things in our lives, God promises to carry our burdens and forgive our sins. He gracefully reminds us over and over again that He will never leave us and that any trial has an expiration date because of Jesus’ resurrection.

Check-in with yourself right now. What are the things in your life that you’re carrying; the things that feel heavy and that you don’t know what to do with. Take those things and lay them at the feet of the one who created you. The one who knows you better than you know yourself. The one who sees all of you…sins and all, forgives you and calls you His beloved child. In His love and redemption, we can be certain.

Go to God with your burdens and give them to him because after all, He is a pretty cool confidant.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I have so much weighing on my heart and mind. You know my trouble and my sin. Forgive me, walk with me, and help give me peace and wisdom. Guide my steps and remind me of your constant love and presence. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions to journal/reflect upon

  1. Read Psalm 118. Underline/highlight verses about God being with you and helping you.
  2. What holds you back from going to God with your problems?
  3. Spend some time praying and talking to God about all of the things going on in your life; laying them at His feet and trusting that He’ll take your burdens.