Soul Sharing

“To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.”  Psalms 25:1

While all of us share some with some, most of us tell all to none.  The reasons vary.  Too risky.  Too redundant.  Too revealing.  But just because we don’t share, doesn’t mean they aren’t there—those hopes, fears, and feelings which mix in our souls and make us who we are.

Our lack of disclosure is often wise (everybody doesn’t need to know everything), but there is One to whom we can divulge all the details and it still be good.  “To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul,” David declares(vs 1). “In you I trust, O my God,” he exclaims(vs 2).  Those around David didn’t understand how he felt.  They didn’t sense his fears or know his faults.  David was lonely and troubled (vs16).    He was miserable and had messed up (vs18), so he looked to God and lifted up his soul.  “My eyes are ever on the Lord”(vs 15).

“Pour out your hearts to him,” David instructs us, for God can be totally trusted(Ps. 62:8).  He won’t turn on us or against us.  He doesn’t shame us or shun us.  He listens; He loves; He will never leave.  Such security gives us confidence to confide in Him, to disclose our anxieties, ambitions, and inadequacies.  We don’t do life well on our own.  God knows we need His help, so admit it and ask Him.  “Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long”(vs 4-5).

Be honest about who you are, and be honest about what you’ve done.  God knows all your sin—past and present.  In the goodness of His grace, He has wiped it away, so don’t let guilt get in the way. “Remember not the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you are good.  For the sake of your name, O Lord, forgive my iniquity, though it is great”(vs 7,11).  Since you can’t hide your wrong from God, hand it to Him and let Him handle it.

You will never tell God anything He doesn’t know, but He will tell you much you need to know.  “The Lord confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them”(vs 14).  God whispers Himself to those who are close, to the ones who communicate with Him and cherish Him.  Such intimacy is not awkward but amazing, and is the deepest desire of both God’s heart and ours.  Lift up your soul and be fully known and fully loved.

Do some soul-searching about your soul-sharing.

Life is best when lifted up.