Probably in the Fall of 2021

During my first depressive episode many years ago, I thought I was a bad Christian because of the anxiety, despair, anger, lack of energy, hopelessness, and other symptoms that were bombarding my body and brain. From what I’d gathered in the five years since receiving Christ, a good Christian, a real Christian didn’t experience this kind of emotional pain. Then I read the Psalms with new eyes, and God ministered to my needy soul, comforting me through the words of David, “Pour out your hearts to him.”

More recently, the Holy Spirit drew my attention to the first part of the verse. Some Christians seem to teach that if we’re truly trusting in Him, then we won’t need to pour out our hearts—we will always have perfect peace. But we’re told to both trust in Him and pour out our hearts to Him. The two go together. We will not open up in complete honesty with Him unless there is great trust (faith) in Him. On the other hand, our trust in Him grows as we express our emotions more honestly and openly.

And when we do both, we experience the truth of the last part of the verse—God is our refuge. We see more clearly how He protects and nourishes us. (Adapted from my blog at https://thosewhoweep.blogspot.com/2018/10/pour-out-your-hearts.html.)

I hadn’t thought about how all three parts of this verse relate to prayer until I read your post. First stage: Pour out our hearts to Him. Second stage: Recognize that He is the foundation, the refuge that we depend upon in a time of crisis. Third stage: Trust in Him to be there for us at all times even as we live by His upside-down kingdom values.

Isn’t God’s Word amazing?

Hear a soon soulless person
on the restless filthy streets,
the swarming lost lives,
of a sullen, frightened city.

Hear her in the neon gloom
of endless allies forgotten.
Finding no equal justice
in callous courts of clay.

Cynical judges, burned-out,
With dead or slowly dying hope.
Politicians in liberal postures,
Spouting false or empty words.

A needle or bottled comfort,
to sooth another night alone.
Hear a lonely soul forgotten,
Homeless in San Francisco tents.

Normally there’s a 50% of Adjusted Gross Income ceiling on charitable deductions. This year, it’s 100%, so a rich person could theoretically give away all of 2020’s income and pay no income tax. Of course, you’d have to have considerable savings to do so. I think you’re referring to the fact that most people do better with the standard deduction, which is not true for those who make major charitable deductions (or have huge medical expenses).