Let’s be honest. Life can hurt. There are worries, disappointments, broken dreams, challenging relationships, health problems, pain.

Max Lucado once said, “If hurts were hairs, we’d all look like grizzlies.”

When it comes to the challenges we face, none of us are offered a free pass; but we are promised God’s presence and help through the pain.

In Psalm 80:1 God is called upon as a mighty Shepherd. But then, in verses 4 and 5 we read: “How long, Lord God Almighty, will your anger smolder against the prayers of your people? You have fed them with the bread of tears; you have made them drink tears by the bowlful.”

Talk about passion and pain!

The whole psalm can teach us a few things about handling our hurts: First, we can know that God is a caring Shepherd. Second, we can pray to God honestly. And third, we can trust he can do something to help.

Too often we hide our hurts. We believe the lie that God is a distant deity or “energy” who doesn’t really care. Our prayers can be rigid and fake. And we don’t really believe he’s going to get involved. But Psalm 80 counsels us otherwise.

“If hurts were hairs, we’d all look like grizzlies.” Well, maybe we are in fact bears; but with God, we don’t need to bear our burdens alone.

Know that God is a caring shepherd. Pray to God honestly. And trust that he can do something to help.

By Matthew Ruttan

–Today’s “Up!” is based on Part 1 in the “Help When It Hurts” series called “WITHness.” Why not take a listen here?
–Bible quotes are from the NIV.