3 Things You Need to Know Before Reading the Psalms

Perhaps that is what makes the Psalms so endearing. We are not just sharing the experience of one person, but many.

The Psalms deal with real questions about life. When you read them, you will discover that they give voice to the range of emotions that live within us. There are psalms that express our joy and hope leading us to worship. At the same time there are other psalms which highlight our fear, grief, frustration, and even our doubts.

The Psalms are all about honesty and they give us permission to ask God questions about life that we all wrestle with.

Here are some of the questions that we find in the Psalms. Have you ever asked some of these?

The beauty of the Psalms is that God does not rebuke the questioner. This should give you confidence when you wrestle with the genuine issues of life. If the writers of Scripture can struggle with the challenging questions of life, so can you.

What makes the Psalms so powerful is that they don’t hide their conflicts, they bring them front and center. They address the adversity and even frustrations we can experience even in our walk with God.

However, the Psalms don’t just leave us hopeless and flailing, they also remind us about God’s character. We know that even through the difficult questions and seasons of life, we discover a God who is faithfully walking with us through them. He never once deserts us, which is why many of the Psalms may start with the tough question but ultimately lead us back to the amazing God who never forsakes us through it all. 

Ultimately, the Psalms give us hope and remind us that faith does not mean you don’t have questions. The writers of the Psalms teach us not to ignore the questions, emotions or the realities of life. Instead, we learn how to use those things to find God and draw us closer to Him.

As you read the Psalms, I hope you see the truth of your life within its pages. Know that the questions and tensions that life brings are real and God does not ignore them. If the Psalms could teach you anything it is that God can handle your hard questions, so don’t be afraid to bring them to him. That is what he desires all along.

Let the Psalms be a roadmap, not to frustration but to God’s presence. Because for every question and season, there is God who will never fail you.

Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Christiane Lois Dating

Clarence L. Haynes Jr. is a dynamic speaker, Bible teacher, and co-founder of The Bible Study Club. In addition, he serves as a campus pastor at Walnut Hill Community Church. Clarence is dedicated to helping people live with purpose and clarity. His unique ability to blend practical wisdom with spiritual insight equips people to thrive in every area of life.

He is the author of The Pursuit of Purpose, which helps readers understand how God leads them into his will, and the author of The Pursuit of Victory: How To Conquer Your Greatest Challenges and Win In Your Christian Life. Clarence is also committed to helping 10,000 people learn how to study the Bible and has released his first course, Bible Study Basics, to achieve that goal. To learn more about his ministry and resources, please visit clarencehaynes.com.