Hey God, Can We Talk? Difficult Conversations Prøve

Hey God, Can We Talk? My Emotions Are Raw 

When I read what David says in the psalms that correspond to the real-life events he is living, I see a powerful demonstration of the importance of being vulnerable and real with God. We can look at a psalm that he wrote to see the dialogue between God and David. I want you to notice this because I have found that conversations with God often don’t look the same as conversations that I have with humans. Indeed, it is helpful to think about our conversations with God as we keep in mind two very important factors:

1. In our communication with God, we need to remember that God is not human, nor confined to the limits of time or space. 

2. Talking with God won’t always look like talking with another human. In my own experience, I have sensed God communicating with me in many ways that go far beyond a human dialogue.

Given these observations, let’s see what this kind of communication looks like for him and how it could also be relevant in our communication with God. First Samuel 21:10-15 describes one of David’s many real-life experiences when he was running from Saul to save his life. 

Based on what we read, it is obvious that David fears for his life and exhibits bizarre behavior in an attempt to save his life. What does communication with and from God look like in this scenario? The answer to this question is found in Psalm 34 where David pours out his heart to God (verses 1-3).

What does God communicate back to David in this psalm? I would suggest to you that God’s communication back to David is less explicit and more indirect. Let’s look at verses 4-9 to discover what God is communicating with David at this time. Please focus on the content in bold to see what and how God is communicating with David:

I sought the Lord, and He answered me, and delivered me from all my fears. They looked to Him and were radiant, and their faces will never be ashamed. This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and rescues them. O taste and see that the Lord is good; how blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him! O fear the Lord, you His saints; for to those who fear Him there is no want. (Psalm 34:4-9)

When I read the combination of David’s real-life events along with the psalm that he wrote to God pertaining to this event, it helps me see the link between my life’s experiences and God communicating with me—even when God’s communication is less explicit and not very concrete. I think this is important for us to consider because much of our human or horizontal communication is generally more direct or explicit. God’s communication with us doesn’t always fit our human paradigms or expectations.

These two factors, finite versus infinite, along with horizontal versus vertical, affect the communication that happens between God and us. As God communicates with us, we would be wise to keep in mind these filters and perspectives so that we can grow in our appreciation of the massive variety of ways that God communicates in our daily living.

Reflection: 

· Read the rest of Psalm 34 and circle or underline all of God’s actions and activities to help you see more ways God can communicate with you.

· Write your own psalm to respond to the variety of ways that God is communicating with you.

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