When a little baby cries, we know they are trying to communicate with us. We know they are hungry, or hot, or cold, or need a diaper change,or something hurts, like when they are teething, or need a reassuring hug, or to be held so they feel safe, or one of many other things.
As
adults, we are supposed to be able to use our words and not simply bawl and
scream.
Sadly,
we don't.
Many
of us grown-ups are still crying and bawling. We are sophisticated in our
crying and bawling, but we do it. We grump about, complaining, casting blame,
gossiping, being rude, being distant, being selfish, being sarcastic... well,
crying and bawling.
What
we need are the same things we needed as babies. We need loving care.
And
all of us would like others to prefer us when we are hurting, right? Right.
We'd like to be understood and cared for. We'd like for people to be tender and
forgiving to us.
How
about this? How about we stop reacting to one another's bad behaviors BEFORE
asking God to help us see what one another really NEEDS? Do you get what I
mean?
For
example, someone is rude, but instead of returning rudeness for rudeness, we
say, "Okay, Lord, this person needs something and they are crying out.
Will You help me understand what they need?"
The
Psalmist got it, for sure. The Psalmist got what it meant to be at the end of
their rope and got how important it was to cry out to God. Most people are
crying out to us. Let's learn ourselves how to cry out to God, and lead others
in the same.
"How
long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from
me? How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the
day? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?" (Psalm 13:1-2 ESV)
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