“Hear my prayer, Lord; listen /to my cry for mercy.” (Psalm 86:6 NIV)
One Tuesday, while kneeling in my usual spot /during our noon prayer
meeting, I heard a woman’s voice to my left. Her head was in her hands,
and she was praying softly. But [something about the way () she prayed]
caught my attention. She was talking to God /as if he stood five feet
away.
“You know, Lord, I’m going to lose that boy to the world, “ she prayed
through tears. She started quietly at first, but as her pleading grew
stronger, her voice became louder. “I’m going to lose him to the gangs
/unless you come and help me. I can’t do it by myself.” I could hear
the desperation in her prayer.
She cried out to God /with all the
urgency of a heartbroken mom.
“You’ve got to do something, God! You’ve got to do something now!”
I could hear everything () she said.
“You know his father is dead and gone,” she reasoned.
There was a pause, and although I couldn’t see her face, I could hear
her weeping. “I’m all alone trying to raise him. And you know all the
voices out there calling to him. God, you have to help me!” Her tone
was so bold, sincere, heartfelt, and intimate. “If you don’t help me,
no one can!” she prayed, before her words dissolved into sobs.
Her prayer moved me deeply. I reached over and put my hand on her heaving shoulder and joined her in intercession for her son.
Someone once said the most awesome thing in the world is when a mere
human being prays to the Creator of the universe and is heard. I felt
that awe /as I listened to this woman, in equal parts confidence and
desperation, lift her heart up /to God and pour out her soul. It was
like watching one of the Psalmists crying out for help. When someone
prays boldly and desperately like this, an old church catchphrase
describes it
/as “storming heaven.”
I have heard lots of prayers like hers at my church, and they have
always moved me. How much more must they move our Father in heaven, who
loves us dearly! Desperate and soul-stirring prayers like hers result
in answers. When God is sought in desperation, he responds.
Even in hopeless situations…
-Pastor Cymbala (excerpted from Strong through the Storm)
In the first few days of this new year, let’s be encouraged by God’s
promise to his people:
“Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will
deliver you, and you shall glorify Me” (Psalm 50:15).
Read Psalm 86.