Psalm 143:2 — “And do not enter into judgment with Your servant, For in Your sight no man living is righteous.”

“I can’t stand her! She treated me wrongly, and I am done!”

Have any of you ever said or thought these words? If you are honest, I am sure that you, like me, have expressed these feelings at one time or another. Maybe a friend betrayed your trust, or a client did you wrong or a family member pushed your buttons too often.

People are imperfect and regular contact affords opportunity for rubbing one another the wrong way. Hurt feelings sometimes get the better of us. But what if there were a different way of handling raw emotions?

Psalms is a wonderful book of the Bible; its pages are filled with hymns and prayers from numerous writers. For centuries many have found comfort by peeking into the thoughts of those long gone. God in His wisdom chose to share with us the deepest feelings of some of His children in order to help us process our own struggles correctly and find comfort in time of need.

Recently, while reading Psalm 143 I was struck by the passion with which David cried out to God for deliverance and guidance. An enemy was persecuting him and the descriptive words seem to suggest his circumstances may have brought on anxiety and depression.

I can almost imagine this man at the end of his rope, uttering, “I can’t stand this enemy! He is treating me wrongly, and I am done!” But even as David cried out for help, he also prayed that God would not judge him for his own sins. He recognized he was a sinner and needed God’s mercy, too.

Later, David expressed his trust and understanding of God’s loving kindness, faithfulness and righteousness. He belonged to the Lord, asked for deliverance and found refuge in Him. He did not take revenge, but waited for the Lord to act.

When an irritating person – maybe even an enemy – has gone too far, we can go straight to the Lord with our complaints. Just as the Psalmist vented all his emotions, we too can call upon God in our distress.

But it is important to remember that no one is righteous, apart from Jesus – not even you. Everyone needs forgiveness. Thankfully, God doesn’t remember us according to our sin, but according to His mercy.

Don’t take matters into your own hands. Ask the Lord to help you see things differently or to intervene when the situation warrants it. And maybe, instead of being done with the person, you will find you can forgive as the Lord has forgiven you.

Sandra Sheridan is a Midwest wife and mother of five. She shares her messages to her children with Farm World. Visit her at www.VersesFromMama.com