Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD; O LORD, hear my voice.
Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy. Psalm 130:1-2 (NIV)
This is a word of encouragement for everyone who reads this today. If you are having a bad time in your life and the words of the psalmist rings for you – God is listening!
These words may be the cry of your heart if you have had an illness or you are a farmer and the rain has not come. You may have had a disagreeable discussion with your spouse or your son or daughter. Your job may be a dragging you into a pit that seems to have no stairway out.
“I am crying out to You from this pit, LORD! Hear me!â€
God is listening. How do I know? Because others have told me. Joseph cried out to God from the pit his brothers had thrown him. He is rescued from there, seems to be in good shape, and he is thrown into a pit again…Pharoah’s prison. He is used by God to free others – but is left in that jail for another three years.
“Hey, LORD! Have you forgotten me?â€
David is chased all over Israel by a paranoid, angry king! He has a couple of opportunities to kill the king – but he doesn’t. David, the anointed one of God, hides in caves and has few friends.
“God! Protect me from the hundreds who want to kill me!â€
Even David was a sinner and felt short of God’s glory. God-in-the-flesh came to be through David lineage. God had a plan all along!
If you, O LORD, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand?
But with there is forgiveness; therefore you are feared.
I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope.
My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning. Psalm 130:5-6 (NIV)
God is mercy. He is also merciful. He is FULL of mercy. He hears our cry and answers – not because I deserve it – but because He loves me. I am His child. He is goodness and kindness. Yes, He disciplines and sometimes I am in that pit in order to learn something. Call it a form of ‘timeout’! But God’s eye I s on the timer and He will not leave me or forget me. He rescues me! He pours out His love on me because He has com-passion!!!
So cry out to God today. Do not hold back your cries or tears. Throw it all on God – because He loves you! (1 Peter 5:7)
