Emotionally Healthy Church

Psalms 88 ends with the writer saying “darkness is my closest friend”

1 Samuel 16:6-7 “When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord.” But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

Psalms 56:1-13

“Be merciful to me, my God,
    for my enemies are in hot pursuit;
    all day long they press their attack.

My adversaries pursue me all day long;
    in their pride many are attacking me.

When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.

In God, whose word I praise—
in God I trust and am not afraid.
    What can mere mortals do to me?

All day long they twist my words;
    all their schemes are for my ruin.
They conspire, they lurk,
    they watch my steps,
    hoping to take my life.
Because of their wickedness do not let them escape;
    in your anger, God, bring the nations down.

Record my misery;
    list my tears on your scroll—
    are they not in your record?

Then my enemies will turn back
    when I call for help.
    By this I will know that God is for me.

In God, whose word I praise,
    in the Lord, whose word I praise—

in God I trust and am not afraid.
    What can man do to me?

I am under vows to you, my God;
    I will present my thank offerings to you.

For you have delivered me from death
    and my feet from stumbling,
that I may walk before God
    in the light of life.”

I Samuel 9:2 “Handsome a young man as could be found anywhere in Israel, and he was a head taller than anyone else”

1 Samuel 15:13-16 “When Samuel reached him, Saul said, “The Lord bless you! I have carried out the Lord’s instructions.”

But Samuel said, “What then is this bleating of sheep in my ears? What is this lowing of cattle that I hear?”

Saul answered, “The soldiers brought them from the Amalekites; they spared the best of the sheep and cattle to sacrifice to the Lord your God, but we totally destroyed the rest.”

Matthew 6:24 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

“Let me alone, Lord, you’ve taken from me what I’d give your world. I cannot see such waste that you should take what poor men need. You have a heaven full of treasure; could you not wait to exercise your claim on this? O spare me, Lord, forgive, that I may see beyond this world, beyond myself, Your sovereign plan, or seeing not, may trust You, Spoiler of my treasure. Have mercy, Lord, here is my quitclaim”