Have you ever felt down, stressed, exhausted, discouraged and at the verge of burn out? You feel you just want to be alone, and even dying sounds like a good option? You are not alone:

The Israelites felt the same in their bondage:

Exodus 6:9, ESV: “Moses spoke thus to the people of Israel, but they did not listen to Moses, because of their broken spirit and harsh slavery.”

Even when Moses went to tell them about their upcoming deliverance, they could not listen to him. They were too discouraged until they acquired a don’t care attitude. Instead of rejoicing about the news, they didn’t respond; they had given up on ever leaving Egypt.

Genesis 30:1 – Rachel said to Jacob in her despair of barrenness, “Give me children, or I shall die!” v2 – Jacob responds in desperation too since he had no solution: “Am I in the place of God, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?

Something good later happened: v22: Then God remembered Rachel, and God listened to her and opened her womb

Johan 4:3 – Jonah had a set mind that the Assyrians would not repent and will be punished; instead they did. He made a desperate prayer in his brokenness and discouragement. “Now, Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.”

1 Kings 19:4b – After Elijah the prophet of Yahweh did exploits at Mt. Carmel; he was afraid of Jezebel the wicked queen. In his despair/anguish/stress and discouragement prays, “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.”

In his sleep (end); God sent his angel to wake him up – to eat and drink – and he was strengthened.

Numbers 11:14-15 – Overwhelmed with the burden of leading the people, who were now asking for meat in the desert, Moses prays to God, “I cannot carry all these people by myself; the burden is too heavy for me.  If this is how you are going to treat me, please go ahead and kill me – if I have found favour in your eyes”.

Matthew 27:46 About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”

On the cross, Jesus felt forsaken, abandoned and alone.

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It is always good to express our sincere feelings to God, and still have faith (Lament) that in moments of despair/discouragement/stress/disappointment and broken spirit, He’s still working behind the scene for our good. Salvation is on the way!

God hates complains (expressing feelings without faith); He honours lament (expressing feelings with FAITH). Satan wants us to complain, but in moments of despair/brokenness remember:

Psalm 34:18, “The Lord is near to the broken-hearted and saves the crushed in spirit.”

Psalms 147:3 – He heals the broken-hearted and binds up their wounds.