We all have an inbred desire to tell someone how we feel, but telling the wrong person only makes our problems worse. Talking excessively about a situation can easily drift into complaining, and that is a sin. Take time to read the upcoming Scriptures and really consider what they are saying:
We must not gratify evil desire and indulge in immorality as some of them did — and twenty-three thousand [suddenly] feel dead in a single day! We should not temp the Lord [try His Patience, become a trial to Him, critically appraise Him, and exploit His goodness] as some of them did — and we were killed by poisonous serpents; nor discontentedly complain as some of them did — and were put out of the way entirely by the destroyer (death).
(1 Corinthians 10:8— 10)
These verses would be frightening if we did not remember that we live in the age of grace, and we have the ability to repent and receive forgiveness quickly. But it is interesting to note what a serious problem complaining is considered to be. Why? Because God is infinitely good, and He expects us to remain thankful even in the midst of difficulty of any kind. It may not be easy, but He expects it nontheless.
In our quest to talk to someone about what is upsetting us, we need to be careful not move into complaining or to make the mistake of talking to the wrong person. You might ask, Who is the right person? If you really just need to vent in a healthy way and perhaps want a good friend to pray for you, then I suggest choosing a trusted friend, family member or spiritual leader. Don’t repeat and nauseam how you feel. Just express your feelings and follow up by reminding yourself that God can heal you and resolve your situation.
If your situation is serious and you seem to be at a standstill, consider professional conseling. That kind of talking can be healthy because the counselor will try to help you face repressed issues that may be producing unhealthy emotions in your life. Such issues can be poisonous, and it’s necessary to work them out of your system. Then you can go on to the good life God wants you to have. I think some people pay a counselor for years and years just to have someone to talk to. But that is not true conseling. True conseling helps you see and face the truth, and once that occurs then the work of healing can begin.
Talking to a counselor can be a good thing, but never forget that the absolute best person to talk to is God.
You are never suggested to stuff your feelings inside and just let them eat away at you. But you are not to encouraged to be phony and just pretent that everything is fine while you are seeing thing with anger inside or feel so discouraged that you think you might explode. People who repress pain and never learn to deal with it properly eventually either explore or implode, and neither one is a good choice. We don’t want to deny them the right rule over us.
My purpose is to get you to express yourself honestly to God or to a person God wants to use, and to get you to express yourself in a godly way. I want to teach you own your emotions rather than letting them own you.
Comment