Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer. (Psalms 19:14 ESV)
IS IT POSSIBLE that the Lord of all, the creator of the heavens and the Earth, can hear my words?
Not just the words on my tongue, but is it possible that God hears those words dancing in my mind, even the words I wrestle with in my heart, or the words that I cannot form to describe the frustration, pain or joy I feel every day?
It is more than just a possibility; it is certain reality, grounded in the promises of him who does not change. God hears you.
He hears you, not just once in awhile, but he is acquainted with all of your ways (Psalms 139:3).
Think of a woman, 37 years old and struggling to keep her head above water at work, besieged by the appointments and practices of her children and a growing unsettled feeling about the strength of her marriage.
How long will it take for the weight of those burdens to force her to collapse, to lift up her eyes to the hills, to plead for relief?
Think about a 68-year-old man, a man you could have easily just driven by today as he sat on the bench on the corner of First and Laurel streets in Port Angeles.
Think of such a man who is going through a divorce after 42 years of marriage, whose children live thousands of miles away and whose adjustment into retirement has him fighting off thoughts of having no self-worth.
Does he know that the tears he sheds at home alone are seen by his Redeemer?
Does he understand that Christ desperately wants him to pour out his pain into Jesus’ untiring hands?
The 37-year-old woman, the 68-year-old man and you, with whatever you find yourself going through, are not alone.
The one that gave the sun its light, who fixes the moon and the stars, who stirs the seas, the Lord of heavenly armies (Jeremiah 31:35) is at your side and hearing your prayers.
If you are reading this article in a Lay-Z-Boy in your living room, at your desk at work, in a coffee shop or on your phone, know that you are not insignificant but that you have a Father in heaven who, through the blood of Christ, has given you the ability to look up and cry out, “Daddy, help.”
Cry out for help and watch your Father show you his love as he supplies you his miracles.
Keep in mind you might not get the miracle you are dreaming of but something even greater.
When help arrives, it might not look like you imagined.
The miracle you receive might be the miracle of patience, endurance, strength, hope or even a deeper faith in the Lord’s devotion to you as he keeps your eyes focused on the horizon of time when he will come again, casting sorrow and sin far away.
Remember, it is not just a possibility that our Lord knows your pain and hears your prayer. It’s a promise.
No amount of sin, guilt, shame or years of running from God can separate you from him (Romans 8:38-39).
Therefore, in confidence, approach the throne of grace, letting your requests be made known … not as a beggar, but as a child of the king.
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Issues of Faith is a rotating column by five religious leaders on the North Olympic Peninsula. The Rev. Patrick Lovejoy is minister of St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Port Angeles. He can be contacted at 360-457-4122 or pastorlovejoy@ rocketmail.com.
