Drama Queen Prayers

Are you ever been labeled a Drama Queen by those who love you, but are slightly annoyed by your passion in certain circumstances?  Like when company's coming and you really do need help?  Or when you're telling a story that simply cannot be told without exaggerated expressions?  Let me tell you, as one who dwells in this place, there IS a time and place for drama.  Am I right, Barb R.?

Look at Psalm 22: http://www.esvbible.org/Psalm+22/  Here is the stuff of true-life drama.  How passionate David is as he shares with God his very real troubles.  In fact, I’ll wager that you haven’t experienced the troubles that David did: pursued by the king unto death, chased around every corner by angry men doing the king's bidding. 

And yet our troubles are real; we are pursued by a very real enemy unto death.  Note how David prays here:  My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?  Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning?  See the passion, the drama?  Because we don’t appreciate being labeled “Drama Queens”, we tend to be very sober in our prayers, very sedate and careful. 

Is this just a little bit dishonest?  When we are dying inside with worry or pain, is it right to put on our Sunday faces and tell God how much we trust Him to care for us?  Is this not a lie of sorts?  We aren’t fooling God.  At times like these, we ought to be glad to be labeled Drama Queens for the sake of “truth in the inward parts”.  We ought to be glad that these words come from God Himself to enable us to pray.  Cry out to Him with all the pain inside.  Don’t hold back.  “But you, O Lord, do not be far off!” (v. 19) 

My children sometimes make fun of the number of exclamation marks I use in my notes and letters.  But let’s count David’s exclamations here in Psalm 22:  I counted 9 in the ESV.   “Come quickly to my aid!”  "May your hearts live forever!"  

Kudos to a man who doesn’t hold back his emotion in the face of deep trouble. 

But let’s be careful here:  As upset and worried as David is, he is never disrespectful.  He knows God’s holiness and choice to withhold comfort, though he doesn’t understand it.  Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.  He reminds himself of who God is and remains respectful in His presence. That is a line we must never cross. 

 

So weep and wail for the sorrows that come upon you; AND tread carefully in the presence of the living God who hears. 

Psalm 62:8  Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us.