Living Life by Design

Having a relationship with God does not protect us from difficulties. The psalmist in Psalm 77 was in distress, and ‘awake all night – not a wink of sleep’ (v.4). He felt that God has rejected him and that he would never experience God’s favour again (vv.7–9).

God wants us to be real with him. He does not want us to pretend that all is well. He wants to hear the cry’s of our heart. This draws us closer to him in times of great distress.

Tell God exactly what you’re feeling: ‘I yell out to my God, I yell with all my might, I yell at the top of my lungs. He listens. I found myself in trouble and went looking for my Lord’ (vv.1–2). Begin your prayer time with a “time of complaining”, just as the psalmist did.

Talk to God as you would a friend. Be real! Hold nothing back.