August 9, 2024

Your Sighing Is a Symptom
BETH KNIGHT

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“All my longings lie open before you, Lord; my sighing is not hidden from you.” Psalm 38:9 (NIV)

“Are you OK?”

I glanced up from scrambling eggs and noticed a troubled look on my husband’s face.

Unbeknownst to me, while I was rushing around our kitchen, deep sighs had been escaping from my heavy chest as I pondered my concerns. While I tackled my daily tasks, my incessant sighing begged for an internal investigation.

Sighing can be a symptom of a weary soul, a language spoken by a languishing heart. This God-given signal draws attention to inner burdens too heavy for us to carry alone. People around us can’t always translate the meaning, but the Lord understands what every sigh attempts to communicate.

We see an example of this in Psalm 38, where King David longed to be free from affliction caused by his sin. He didn’t hide his feelings from the Lord. He humbly bared his soul and begged for mercy, trusting the Lord to see, hear and save him.

Psalm 38:9 says, “All my longings lie open before you, Lord; my sighing is not hidden from you.”

Similarly, when unseen spiritual opposition devastated Job’s life, he said, “Sighing has become my daily food; my groans pour out like water” (Job 3:24, NIV).

Wave after wave, unspeakable trials came upon Job for eternal purposes known only to God. The worst Job feared could happen … did happen. Still, like David, Job transparently shared his heart with the Lord.

When pain runs deep, it’s comforting to know we aren’t alone — God’s people throughout Scripture, our fellow believers today, and even the natural world groan alongside us as we await final redemption and restoration (Romans 8:22-23). Most importantly, “the Spirit [of God] himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words” (Romans 8:26b, ESV).

In John 16:33b, Jesus says, “In the world you will have tribulation” (ESV). The Greek word for “tribulation,” thlipsis, means “to crush, press together or squeeze.” Yet when troubles constrict our breathing, we can release the pressure valves of our hearts by praying to the One who also says, “Take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33c, ESV)!

Precious friend, we can trust our Creator with our pain. He will help us by replacing our weaknesses with His strength and our pressures with His peace.

No sigh or groan goes unnoticed; each one is deeply felt and understood by the Savior who loves us. He sees the burdens we carry and enables us to remain faithful despite unmet longings and seasons of suffering that leave us breathless.

So why hold in our feelings when we can hand them over to Him? Journal, pray or even scream them out! When we lay our burdens at Jesus’ feet, His unending mercy and grace meet us in our time of need (Hebrews 4:16).

Heavenly Father, You know my heart is heavy. I humbly release every burden into Your sovereign hands. Please soothe me, calm my fears, and lead me beside still waters. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

OUR FAVORITE THINGS

“How do I enjoy where I am while I long for what’s missing?” Our next Circle 31 Book Club pick tackles just that! Starting September 1, we’re reading Anonymous: Jesus’ Hidden Years…and Yours by Dr. Alicia Britt Chole together. Jesus Himself experienced longings on earth, and He met each one with God’s unchanging Truth. His power and example help us enjoy this present moment, even while the desire for what’s missing remains. Join us in Circle 31 as we read Anonymous together.

Sometimes we hit a point in a relationship where we realize something must change. But when we’re so close to the situation, it’s easy to feel unsure about what's really going on and what the best next steps are from here. That’s why Lysa TerKeurst; counselor Jim Cress; and Proverbs 31 Ministries’ Director of Theological Research, Dr. Joel Muddamalle, the voices of the Therapy & Theology podcast, want to help you. Tune in to their recent conversation “Am I in Denial That This Relationship Is Unhealthy?” today!

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FOR DEEPER STUDY

Psalm 10:17, “You, LORD, hear the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry …” (NIV).

Lamentations 3:56-57, “You have heard my voice: ‘Do not hide Your ear From my sighing, from my cry for help.’ You drew near on the day I called on You, And said, ‘Do not fear!’” (NKJV).

God knows the meaning of your sighing before you have words for it. When can you make time to share your raw and unrehearsed thoughts with the Lord?

We’d love to hear from you! Share your thoughts in the comments.

© 2024 by Beth Knight. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries
P.O. Box 3189
Matthews, NC 28106
www.Proverbs31.org