God Hears Our Cries - February 13 Readings: Exodus 37-38, Matthew 26:30–46, Psalms 22:21–27, Proverbs 4:19–20

Links to Feb 13 Readings: Exodus 37-38, Matthew 26:30–46, Psalms 22:21–27, Proverbs 4:19–20 

It's been kind of a heavy night for me. If you have read my Facebook you are aware that a good friend of mine took his life yesterday, a pastor of a Baptist church near Waterloo. It has broken my heart and made me feel frustrated. Evidently, we are never going to know why he did this. Everything seemed to be going fine. People that had meetings with him in the last couple of days saw no signs of depression. Now, he's gone and there are a lot of people with broken hearts and a lot of confusion. 

But there is a promise made in Psalm 22:24. Psalm 22 is a lament about suffering. It also has messianic dimensions - pointing toward Jesus Christ. In a deep time of suffering, the Psalmist reached toward heaven and he learned something important. 

For He has not despised or detested the torment of the afflicted. He did not hide His face from him but listened when he cried to Him for help.

There are a lot of hurting people out there - pastors, church members and the unchurched alike. Suffering is not limited to one group or the other. There are people who read these posts who are sad and discouraged by life. Money. Marriages. Relationships. Loss and grief. Stress and pressure. Abuse. We'd like it if being a good Christian meant you were never sad, discouraged or depressed; if you never failed. You are not perfect, nor am I. And the sinful world can strike against any of us, no matter how spiritual we are. 

It helps to have friends and Christian family around us when we are experiencing pain. But we mus never forget that there is One who "has not despised or detested the torment of the afflicted." He does not hide his face from us, but instead his "listened when he cried to Him for help." 

God cares about the torment we go through. We can turn to him for help and healing. 

Father in Heaven, I thank you that my suffering is not to small for you to care about. You are amazing. I turn to you for the help I need when I am hurting. A God who cares, a God who listens when I cry for help - that is good wonderful for words.