12 “Hear my prayer, Lord, listen to my cry for help; do not be deaf to my weeping.”
I was in that place—begging God to hear my weeping. My life had fallen apart and I had hit rock bottom. I cried out to Him and He heard my cry. He gently picked me up and set my feet on the narrow road, that one Jesus asks us to walk as we follow Him. He asked me to take up His yoke for it was light—it was so much lighter than the one I tried to carry on my own. That road has not been without pain, but God has used it to teach me to trust Him. I tried to detour a time or two but the fear of losing the closeness to Him always brought me back. His love and mercy have won my heart and I am His for all eternity.
7 The Lord your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He has watched over your journey through this vast wilderness. These forty years the Lord your God has been with you, and you have not lacked anything.
Yes, that verse could be the story of my life. I got a call last weekend from a woman who is in that place described in Psalm 39 of crying out to God. My heart broke for her as I listened to her story. It was my story. She is in the same place I was seventeen years ago. I tried to share with her all that God has done in my life. He has healed deep places of brokenness. He has shown me true love. He has given me purpose. He gave me new friends. He has been with me and I have lacked nothing.
Sometimes I forget all that He has done for me. I can get into that place of feeling sorry for myself, feeling alone and forgotten. In Deuteronomy, Moses was reminding the Israelites of their journey. It had not been easy. Because of their fear and doubt, they were called to wander in the wilderness for forty years. In chapters 1-3, he would talk about one of their trials, or one of their battles, and then remind them how God showed up for them, provided for them, and fought for them. He reminded them of God’s faithfulness. My story is no different than theirs. He has walked me through trials, provided for me, and fought for me. But sometimes I need to be reminded.
The phone call I took last week was as much for me as it was for the woman I was trying to encourage. You see, a few hours earlier I had shared a struggle with a friend and she prayed for me and with me that I would know I wasn’t alone. In speaking of my own journey, I shared God’s faithfulness. It was a reminder to me that I am not alone or forgotten. I have a God that loves me so much He sent His Son to die on a cross for me. He loves me so much He sent the Holy Spirit to live inside me. He loves me so much that He entrusts me to share His story with others. How I love to share that story.
Oh Heavenly Father—sometimes all I can do is smile as I see you answer prayers in my life. Usually they are totally different than I picture the answer to be. But there is not a doubt it is from You. I can feel your closeness, your caring, your goodness. Thank You that You are always with us, that You hear us when we weep. Nothing goes unnoticed by You. Your compassion envelopes us as You hold us close to Your heart. We are loved with an everlasting love. You have given us all a story to tell. May we never grow tired of telling Your story. I pray this in Jesus name. Amen
Cindy (gardnlady)
Sixty-six books in a year 