Eavesdropping

 I absolutely love to people watch. I could sit and watch and listen to people all day long and learn from them. I love when I get to see what makes them tick... Yesterday, we had a 6 hour layover in Tampa on our long journey home from Chris' dad's funeral in West Virginia. I’ve been reading through the Bible this year with my “The Jesus Storybook: Every Story Whispers His Name” but while I’m traveling I don’t carry it so my go-to is to read the Proverb & Psalm of the day and whatever book of the Bible I’m studying through. It’s amazing that while I’ve read in Psalm 4 now at least twice in 2022, I’ve made note of different verses. In seasons of life the same scripture calls out in different ways.

Yesterday as we found comfy chairs to sit and study in, I was observing two different couples near us. Let’s be clear - it took literally zero effort to hear both conversations. I wasn't snooping. One was in town for the Shriner’s event, but had been delayed already by 24 hours. They were waiting on a table for dinner. The other was trying to communicate to their ride where to pick them up while sporting very nice shoes. Like shoes from a foreign country, fancy leather, hand sewn and sharp. They stood out just seeing their shiny wooden soles. The couple waiting on dinner were sharing with another couple the chaos of being stuck in the airport and how the hotel had been sold out of rooms and people had nowhere to sleep. They were thankful and making the best of an inconvenient delay. 

 

This one (with the nice shoes) who had just arrived was being sugar sweet on the phone saying he’d landed, he’d missed his wife (or mom – sadly I couldn’t tell) and had had a good trip but was ready to relax. The conversation quickly turned as he could not coordinate their logistics. He began to cuss loudly and even stomp his feet like a 3 year old as he was trying to coordinate where he was compared to where they were. He held his phone away from his face furiously as he cursed at them. How very sad I was for the person on the other end of that phone call. And how very sad I was for him. He did not appear to have an ounce of joy in his heart. He had not experienced a delay in his flight or any inconvenience other than not being able to communicate where to meet. 

 

So, as you can imagine Psalm 4 landed so differently on my heart yesterday. I prayed for the arriving fancy shoed guy to come to know Him personally: the peace and safety He offers. And that he and his ride would come to know everlasting joy found only in Him. I prayed for the Shriner’s couple as well. Two different ways of dealing with frustrations... and anger. Check it out:

"Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have given me relief when I was in distress. Be gracious to me and hear my prayer! O men, how long shall my honor be turned into shame? How long will you love vain words and seek after lies? Selah
But know that the Lord has set apart the godly for himself; the Lord hears when I call to him. Be angry, and do not sin;ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent. Selah
Offer right sacrifices, and put your trust in the Lord. There are many who say, “Who will show us some good? Lift up the light of your face upon us, O Lord!” You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound. In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.” Psalm 4

What is David angry about? How does David deal with his anger? How can we be angry and sin not? How can reflecting on angry feelings be a healthy way of dealing with anger? How can knowing the joy of the Lord help you deal with anger? Talk to God about any anger you are dealing with right now. Ask Him to help you express it directly and not hold it in. (Questions taken from The NIV Quiet Time Bible)

*Taken from LIFT weekly email.