Something I love about the Psalms is that they are raw and real. Most of them were written by King David, a man who minced no words regarding the depth of his feelings. In fact, if we have ears to hear and eyes to see, his ancient poems have something important to teach us about our human journey — something that’s been repeatedly backed by science: you can’t pick and choose your emotions. A song of hope and victory is often preceded by a song of lament and sorrow. Pain is a necessary part of the human experience, and unless we acknowledge this truth, we can never move fully into abundant life. Unfortunately, many people try to push down the yucky things that they feel and simply pretend that they don’t exist; however, they must be brought into the light before they can be healed. This is important to understand, especially as Christians, because we are called to be imitators of God and to share His hope with the world. We can’t truly possess the riches of peace, grace, and goodness if we refuse to delve into the hurt of our past. Sorrow and joy live side-by-side, and until we open ourselves up to Jesus and trust Him to see us through, we won’t inherit the freedom He died to give us. He is the King of our hearts, and He bids us bring everything hidden into His presence so it can be purified, redeemed, and restored.

My friend, if deep is calling to deep in your life, let yourself be immersed in the waters. Though they may feel overwhelming, your emotions will not consume you, and as you acknowledge and pray through them, the Lord will lead you to a place of freedom. There’s no shame in admitting that you’re hurting, and as you invite friends, mentors, and counselors to join you on your journey, you’ll find that your pain becomes your point of greatest gain. With Jesus, your test is your testimony, because He turns mourning into dancing and brings peace from the darkness of despair.