In the midst of a busy and distracted world, testimonies of faith are often considered mere formalities. Many people are more comfortable talking about God in safe spaces, while personal experiences with Him are kept tightly closed. Psalm 40:10-18 invites us to realize that witnessing is not just a ritual, but a calling for every believer. Witnessing means opening a space for conversation so that God's work can be present in the midst of a community that longs for true meaning.

The psalmist says, "I have not hidden justice in my heart; I have spoken of your faithfulness and your saving work." He recognizes that to withhold God's truth is to betray one's neighbor. Keeping the testimony is the same as hiding the image of God from those who need it most. So, when someone dares to open up about God's work in his life, he is actually paving the way for the process of empathic resonance, which is an emotional resonance where others feel the same presence of God. On the other hand, the Psalmist also realized the risks of witnessing, namely being subjected to ridicule and rejection. But for the Psalmist, withholding the testimony of God's goodness is far more grievous, because it means the same as letting others miss the opportunity to see God's goodness.

After recounting God's work before the congregation, the Psalmist honestly admits his fragile self, "I am pursued by my faults." He realizes that being a witness for God does not automatically make him immune to sin and failure. Sometimes when the mouth is praising God, at the same time the heart is also struggling with its own weakness. Even here we see that the psalmist was not only wrestling with personal sin, but also with those who mocked and belittled him. In today's society, what these people do is similar to hate speech on social media, where people easily feel entitled to mock the suffering of others. In response, the Psalmist did not react reactively. Instead, he prays for God to restore a just social order. That those who seek the Lord may rejoice, and say continually, "The Lord is great!".

Friends of the Bible, today we are again reminded that witnessing is not simply a speaking activity, but an existential act that brings together the glory of God and the frailty of man. True witness is when someone dares to say, "I am miserable and poor, but God cares for me." In a world that is increasingly noisy with imagery and hostility, the courage to tell God's work honestly, with all the struggles and tears, is an act that builds healing space for oneself and others.