HIDING OUR HURTS IS NOT THE SOLUTION FOR GETTING RELIEF FROM THEM

BIBLE PASSAGE:
Listen to my words, LORD, consider my lament.
Hear my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray. 
(Psalm 5:1-2)

MEDITATION:
There are many people who are hurting, but are not seeking help.
In fact, some are hiding their hurts behind smiles 
in an effort to conceal the pain they are experiencing.
It could be worry, stress, sadness, depression, disappointments, 
loneliness, sickness, betrayal, feelings of inferiority, or any 
number of other things which are causing them distress.

Some will open up to a close friend, 
but many continue to mask the hurts they are feeling.
Why would they do that?
Is it because they fear that others will consider them weak?
Could it be an excessive pride that doesn’t want to expose any flaws?

Whatever the cause, there are many who are suffering, but hiding it.
Concealed pain can develop an increased negative outlook on everything.
It can prevent us from enjoying the good things that happen to others,
which confirms the phrase, “misery loves company”.

When we are hurting, the pain seems greater when others are not hurting too.
The truth is, others may be masking their hurts as well.
Internal hurts can prevent us from forgiving and encouraging others,
and this continues to feed our negative feelings and emotions.

Eventually we find ourselves in a rut of negativity 
which is robbing us of the joys of life.
Someone said, “A rut is a grave with both ends kicked out”,
which implies it is akin to dying a slow death.
Nobody wants to, or should have to, live in that condition.

No matter how much we try to hide our hurts, we have an 
omniscient Heavenly Father who sees, and knows when we are hurting.
Since He knows the root causes, He also knows the cure.
When we are overwhelmed, we should openly and honestly speak to 
the Lord without formalities and using words like ‘thee’ and ‘thou’.

Just talk to Him respectfully in the same way we would talk to a friend, 
but without feeling the need to conceal anything.
When we speak to God, we don’t have to fear the potential 
of becoming a target for some gossip circle.

ACTION:
Hopefully you do not have internal hurts that you are hiding,
but if you do, then talk to God with a faith that He will help you.
God cares about every individual and wants what is best for us.
At the same time, He wants us to set aside our independence 
and rely on Him in the same manner a child depends on his or her parent.

In order to feel more comfortable talking to God, spend time reading 
the Bible so you can learn more about Him and His love for you.
1 John does not require an inordinate amount of time to read,
but rather than trying to read it quickly, read each verse slowly
and meditate on what God is saying to you specifically.

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, I am thankful that although others may not know 
or understand what I am going through, You do. Forgive me for not 
relying on You to help me in my time of need. Increase my faith so
that when You speak to me, I can hear, understand, and do the things 
required to help me overcome my hurts. After You have lifted my 
spirits and encouraged me, remind me that there are others who are 
hurting, and that I should be willing to be a confidential and listening 
friend to them. Help me to realize that quite often it is better to remain 
silent and just listen to them as they unload their wagon. They need to 
have a confidence that what they say remains between the two of us.”

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