Psalms 142

Cry Out to the Lord

I cry out to the Lord with my voice; With my voice to the Lord I make my supplication. I pour out my complaint before Him; I declare before Him my trouble. ~ Psalms 142:1-2

Have you ever felt completely overwhelmed, like no one really understands what you’re going through? Maybe you’ve been in a place where you felt trapped, by circumstances, emotions, or even your own thoughts. If so, you’re not alone. David knew exactly what that felt like. When he wrote Psalm 142, he was hiding in a cave, running for his life. He had no escape, no solution in sight, and no one to turn to, except God. So David did the most powerful thing he could: he cried out to the Lord.

I’ve had moments like that. Moments when I felt like no one would understand the weight I was carrying. I remember one particularly difficult season when I felt completely drained. It seemed like everywhere I turned, there was another challenge, another disappointment, another burden. I wanted to talk to someone about it, but I felt like if I opened my mouth, all that would come out would be complaints, frustration, and negativity.

And honestly, I was right on the edge of letting it all spill out to the wrong people. I wanted to vent to a friend, unload on my husband, or even post something vague online just to let people know I was struggling. But then, I read Psalm 142:2 that says: “I pour out my complaint before Him; I declare before Him my trouble.”

That’s when I realized: I do need to talk about it, but I need to take it to God first.

There’s a difference between complaining and bringing our burdens to the Lord. David wasn’t afraid to be honest with God. He didn’t pretend everything was fine, he poured out his heart. But instead of speaking words that would spread negativity, stir up bitterness, or weigh others down, he turned his complaints into prayer. He made prayer his first response instead of his last resort.

So, the next time you feel overwhelmed, here’s where to start:

1. Pause Before You Speak – When you feel the urge to vent, take a moment and ask yourself: Am I bringing this to God first? If the answer is no, stop and pray before saying anything else.
2. Be Honest with God – You don’t have to sugarcoat your feelings. Tell Him exactly how you feel, just like David did. He already knows, and He cares.
3. Trade Complaints for Prayer – Instead of just airing frustrations, ask God for help, wisdom, and peace. Shift from “Why is this happening?” to “Lord, help me trust You in this and show me how to get through to victory”
4. Guard Your Words – Once you’ve prayed, be mindful of how you speak about your situation. Instead of dwelling on the problem, start speaking words of faith and trust. You can say something like: “I’ve turned the situation over to God and He is taking care of it now.”  Then thank Him that He is at work in the situation every time you think of it again.

Something amazing happens when we cry out to God—He meets us where we are. When I turned to God in my moment of frustration, I felt an immediate shift. My attitude shifted and instead of feeling stuck in negativity, I felt lighter. I wasn’t carrying the weight alone anymore.

David ends Psalm 142 with a powerful declaration:
Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise Your name; The righteous shall surround me, for You shall deal bountifully with me. ~ Psalm 142:7

David started the Psalm in distress, but he ended it in faith. That’s what happens when we take our burdens to God, an exchange happens.  We lay down our struggles and in return, He gives us peace, clarity, and the strength to keep going.

Today I want to remind you that what you say in hard moments matters. Will you let your words keep you stuck in frustration, or will you surrender them to God and allow Him to work in your situation?

The next time you feel overwhelmed, don’t let your first reaction be to vent to others.  Instead, make prayer your first response and cry out to the Lord first. He sees you, He hears you, and He will meet you right where you are. Trust that He will bring you through and deal bountifully with you. When you do that, you won’t just find relief, you’ll find freedom.

Today’s scripture reading: Psalms 142

1 I cry out to the Lord with my voice; With my voice to the Lord I make my supplication.

2 I pour out my complaint before Him; I declare before Him my trouble.

3 When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then You knew my path. In the way in which I walk they have secretly set a snare for me.

4 Look on my right hand and see, For there is no one who acknowledges me; Refuge has failed me; No one cares for my soul.

5 I cried out to You, O Lord: I said, “You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.

6 Attend to my cry, for I am brought very low; Deliver me from my persecutors, for they are stronger than I.

7 Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise Your name; The righteous shall surround me, for You shall deal bountifully with me.”