By Leigh DeLozier (Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest)
“If I can make it through the next two days until everyone leaves, then I can fall apart.”
My heart went out to the woman who spoke those words to me. She was navigating a personal crisis and was surrounded by family and friends who loved her and wanted to help however they could.
But instead of seeing their attention as supportive, she felt stifled. In her mind, she had to keep everything together until no one was around to see her conglomeration of emotions release.
Sometimes when we’re seen as being “the strong one,” it’s hard to let others see beyond that persona. It’s hard to be open (even with a few people who love us) because being open means being vulnerable. It means letting others see that we aren’t always as strong as they might think.
Life is too difficult to navigate alone — and God didn’t intend for us to try to.
He puts people in our lives to help celebrate its many beautiful moments. But they’re also here to help us through seasons that are confusing, difficult, sorrowful, even horrific.
It might take a while before we reach the point of opening up to the people around us. But in the meantime, we can say (or cry or yell) anything we want to God. As I used to tell the middle and high school students I taught at church, we can tell God anything we want, even the ugly or hard things. Because He can take it.
We can scream or cry or shake our fist at Him. We can choke out, “God, help me,” and let our tears or tangled up emotions speak for themselves.
Whatever we say and however we say it to Him, God is big enough to handle it.
Nothing we say surprises Him because He knows everything about us — including what’s going to come out of our mouths before the words form (Before a word is on my tongue, you, LORD, know it completely. Psalm 139:4).
And God wants us — invites us, even — to talk to Him about everything, from the mundane to the earth-shattering. The best of the good, the worst of the bad — and all in between.
10 Bible verse reminders that God hears us
Even when we aren’t sure we want to share with anyone else, God is our strongest supporter and best place to turn. These are some of my favorite Bible verses reminding that God is always ready to listen to us, especially in the tough times.
Before they call I will answer; while they are yet speaking I will hear. ~ Isaiah 65:24
In my distress I called upon the Lord; to my God I cried for help. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached his ears. ~ Psalm 18:6
But truly God has listened; he has attended to the voice of my prayer. Blessed be God, because he has not rejected my prayer or removed his steadfast love from me! ~ Psalm 66:19-20
O Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off.” ~ Psalm 139:1-2
The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. ~ Psalm 145:18
The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him. ~ Nahum 1:7
And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” ~ 1 Corinthians 12:9
Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. ~ Hebrews 4:16
For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. ~ 1 Peter 3:12a
Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. ~ 1 Peter 5:7
Your turn: There are so many other verses I could have listed, but I’d rather hear from you! What’s one of your favorite reminders that God is always there to listen?
Leave a comment below to help encourage someone else.
Sometimes it’s hard to talk about our hurts with other people. But God is always there to listen. #GodHears #GodListens #wordsofhope
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10 Bible verses that remind us God hears our cries #GodHears #GodListens #encouragement
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Leigh, thanks for sharing these encouraging Scriptures. We do need each other. That’s why God tells us in 2 Corinthians 1:4, “Who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” Blessings my friend.
Yes! Thanks for adding that verse for us to consider — there’s so much to cling to in it. Blessings to you, too, my friend!
As someone who has always strived to be “the strong, silent one”, I’ve long known that I can crawl into Abba’s lap with any problem, even when all I can do is sob. Learning to become more vulnerable (i.e., open up) with my spouse, but it’s a slow process. I’m supposed to be the rock of the family; in reality, Jesus needs to be. I ain’t Him.
You’re exactly right, JD! I tend to also think I’m the one who’s supposed to be the one people can depend on, yet Jesus is the One we should all be turning to for anything and everything. The vulnerability of letting others see we don’t always have everything together can be be scary. But we’ll get there, won’t we? Thanks for sharing, sir!