To Despair Or To Prayer

 

When they cry to the LORD

    because of oppressors,

He will send them 

   a savior and a defender

and make Himself known.

...and He will listen

      to their pleas for mercy

and heal them.

                   Isaiah 19. 20-22

The adverb when

means at what time

and in what circumstances.

When do we cry to the LORD?

What does it take to bring

   us to that point 

   of crying out to Him?

Desperation leads us

    to despair or to prayer.

God's mercy is always

  available for the asking.

God does not force Himself

           upon us,

but runs to us

and makes Himself known

   on so many levels.,

so much deeper than

   mere "answers."

"...though in the meantime 

you do not understand

           what God is doing.

God has bigger issues at stake

than the particular things you ask."

          -- Oswald Chambers

O LORD,

Thank you for the assurance

that when we call out to You,

    You hear,

    You listen, You respond,

    You defend,

    You make Yourself known,

    You heal our souls.

And that changes everything.

Keep us from hesitating

   from coming to You.

Even today. Even in this.