207 The Land Between: Meltdown and Prayer
When you’re in the Land Between, the natural question we ask is, “How long? How long will I be in this hard place?”
This question nagged the Israelites as they slogged through the wilderness, eventually leading to complaint. Their relentless complaining turned personal, and they blamed Moses for their woes.
The accusations and criticism beat down on Moses until he couldn’t take it anymore. He hadn’t asked for this job! He is so discouraged and weary that he asks God to let him die rather than continue like this.
The Land Between can be a place of emotional meltdown.
You might think Moses is no different than the Israelites, complaining and ready to quit. But there’s a key difference. The Israelites were complaining about God. Moses is praying to God.
Moses isn’t the only biblical leader to go through a “dark night of the soul.” The prophets Elijah and Jeremiah both experienced emotional meltdowns of their own. So discouraged and defeated, each of them despaired of life itself, and they poured out their pain and lament to God in prayer.
You might read their prayers and wonder if this kind of honesty with God is acceptable. Can we really bare our souls and give vent to our feelings in this way?
Keep in mind that these guys are spiritual heavyweights. They are not among the ranks of the immature. Their honest prayers are an indication of their spiritual depth rather than a sign of shallowness. And God never condemns or disciplines them for pouring out their emotions.
But I also wonder if God chose to include their emotionally raw and honest prayers in the Scriptures to validate our pain. Perhaps these prayers and others like them in the Bible were preserved as a way for the Lord to whisper to us, “See, you’re not alone. Go ahead and cry out. Turn to Me and give vent to your fatigue, hurt, and disappointment.”
In the words of Jesus, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Mt. 11:28)
The Land Between can provide an opportunity for intimate prayer.
You may be thinking, “I like the idea of pouring out my heart to God, but to be honest, I am so numb and exhausted, I don’t know what to say.”
Let me give you some practical help in three simple words: SCAN…CONNECT…BORROW.
Scan through the Psalms. See if you can find some language for crying out. Many of these songs were written by King David during times of tremendous pressure. (Ps. 69)
Connect personally to the words. If your response to the words you scan is, “That’s me! I feel like that!” then pause. (Ps. 55)
Borrow those words and use them in your own prayer. (Ps. 13)
In the Land Between, emotional meltdowns are inevitable. But honest prayer is powerful. When we turn to God, we’re turning in the right direction. Rest is found. Intimacy is deepened. And hope is fueled.
Text: Nu. 11:4-6, 10-15; Mt. 11:28
Originally recorded on October 20, 2013, at Fellowship Missionary Church, Fort Wayne, IN
With thanks for this resource:
The Land Between: Finding God in Difficult Transitions by Jeff Manion