When the righteous cry for help the LORD hears, and rescues
them from all their troubles.
Psalm 34: 17 (NRSV).
The Lord hears. No matter how broken the prayer, how
strained or faint the cry, the LORD hears. Most of us can look back to times
when our spirits were in such deep distress, we were at a loss for words. Sometimes
we just said, “Jesus” over and over again because our lips could not formulate
sentences from the relentless torrent of words crashing through our thoughts.
What a comfort to know the LORD hears.
Not only does he hear but he makes sense of the groans and
sighs and the prayers that hiccups and stops, and the stammering words slowly
trailing off into silence. He knows the words we wish to utter before we figure
out speech is necessary. Not only so, God knew we would be faced with whatever
it is that now leaves us stymied. Beloved, not only did God know the end form
the very beginning of time, he also had a plan in mind of exactly what to do
for you.
So he hears, he understands and he rescues the righteous
from all their troubles. “Wait a minute,” you say. “Many times the situation does not change
after I pray. How can the Bible then say God saves me from my troubles?” Well
there is salvation and there is salvation. God saves his people in many ways. A few of these are changing the
circumstances, changer the person in the circumstance, changing the person as a
result of the circumstances, removing the problem all together, sending help
within the trial, changing consequences resulting from the circumstance — and I
am sure by now you can think of several ways God demonstrates he hears, rescues
and saves.
So whether this moment finds you speechless or just without
the right words to express your need, whether you think or speak or mutter a
disjointed collection of words, God promises to hear the righteous. And we know
he is faithful to deliver all those who trust in him.
My heavenly Father, I
ask you to search my heart and my thoughts right now. See the words I cannot
express, hear my prayer as I lift my spirit to you. Father, I ask you to hear
and rescue me from my troubles according to the promise of your Word. Amen.
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