“O Lord, rebuke me not in your anger,
nor discipline me in your wrath.
Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am languishing;
heal me, O Lord, for my bones are troubled.
My soul also is greatly troubled.
But you, O Lord – how long?”
—Psalm 6:1-3 ESV
In moments of suffering, it is hard to know what to think or what to say, but David gives us a good example to follow.
He seems to think that his situation is, at least in part, his own fault, and so he pleads for grace.
He appears to believe that God is taking longer than he should to respond, and he says so: “O Lord – how long?”
In other words, David is honest.
Many of us feel the need to “sugar-coat” our prayers or make them more “presentable,” but may we learn this lesson today:
God cherishes honest prayers.
And here’s the thing: God already knows what you’re thinking, so hiding from him is pointless.
Here is a short prayer to help you invite God into every moment of your day:
Inhale: God,
Exhale: Here I am.