Dear Father,

While reading through the book of Psalms, I see how David acknowledges that “You are a refuge in times of trouble.” Yet, in a different chapter, he raises questions such as, “Why do You stand afar off and hide Yourself in times of trouble?” If all I know about You is derived from the book of Psalms, which of these statements is true? Why wasn’t one of them edited out to maintain a consistent narration of his testimony about You? Maybe truth isn’t solely dependent on the words we speak, but also on the experiences and feelings behind those words.

While one Psalm shows how David felt in the dark, another reveals what he knew in the light. And the amazing part is, You have room for both. I’ve watched how our understanding of faith has slowly but effectively condemned our authenticity. “Let the weak say, I am strong” has left no place for “Weep with those who weep.”

So, in confessing strength, we feel faithful, and in revealing weakness, we feel sinful. Yet the words of David - in strength and in weakness - were included in Scripture to reveal that a season of weakness is not necessarily a season of doubt. For it is in acknowledging our weaknesses that we find Your strength.

Translated to French, Bengali, and Urdu