Answer me when I call, O God of my right!
You gave me room when I was in distress.
Be gracious to me, and hear my prayer.
How long, you people, shall my honor suffer shame?
How long will you love vain words, and seek after lies?
But know that the Lord has set apart the faithful for himself;
the Lord hears when I call to him.
–Psalm 4:1-3 NRSV
Speaking truth is vital for our spiritual health.
Hearing truth is required for our spiritual development.
Both are essential to building community.
When we think about our communication with God, whether individually or in a congregation, we often think of expressing our love and praise for God and expressing our desires of God. We are less comfortable with confession to God, but we know that it is necessary, in order for us to be relived of the burden of guilt and shame, and in order that right relationships might be restored. This is a matter of “speaking the truth.” Indeed, these are also required for the maintenance of any relationship.
All three of these are found again and again in the Psalms, which is the primary worship book of the Judeo-Christian tradition. But something else is found in the Psalms; something which is absolutely essential for this moment in time. It is this: speaking the truth of our experience. It is crying out in our pain. It is calling out injustice done to us or another. And it is knowing that our truth is heard.
Look at that first line of Psalm 4: “You gave me room…”
God gives us the space and the time to tell our story. Without judgement. Without correction. Without minimizing. Without gaslighting. And usually without “should-ing” on us (telling us what we should do). God gives us room to be in distress and pain. And God calls us to hear others together in the same way.
Then the miracle happens. Again and again in the Psalms, expressing our experience, and knowing we are heard, we feel validated and empowered to move through the experience. We are able to remember who we are, and the ability we have to allow God’s work of justice and restoration to happen in and through us.
Collective confession is difficult, so we often share unison prayers of general confession. Corporate expressions of hurt can and do happen, but it is similarly difficult for each person to tell their own story in a large worship setting. This is why small groups and caregiving settings are so important. But even more important is for each one of us, as individuals in the body of Christ, to be good listeners in all of our relationships.
God gives you space. God hears you.
Let’s give each other attention and space. Let us listen to each other.
Loving God, here is where I am hurting today…
help me to be like Jesus: to listen and love. Amen.
This Sunday is UMW Sunday. Be sure to join us in worship online or in-person at 8, 9:30 and 11 AM
Blessings, Pastor George