Pastor J.D. Farag really nailed it on the head this morning. Per usual, I always love to hear his sermons. This mornings topic was titled, “God Hears Your Cries”. It was a very fitting title for the current season my family and I are in.

We often pray to God and while we pray to God I would hope you are being expectant of an answer. No matter what the answer may be. Here in the above Psalm we see something we all can relate to, the psalmist is seeking for answers. Pleading with the Lord, “Be gracious to me and hear my prayer!”.

Our family is going through some uncertainty and bad news at the moment. Therefore I can most certainly relate to the heartache this psalmist may have been feeling.

One of the things we can recognize within these scriptures is the fact of who we are compared to God. We need God’s grace. We need His mercy. Without Him we don’t have hope.

‘But know that the Lord has set apart the godly for himself; the Lord hears when I call to him.’

(Psalms 4:3, ESV)

Verse three is also encouraging. As children of God we are favored. We are set apart for Him and His glory. Here is reassurance that the Lord indeed hears our cries. As you continue to read the Psalms of this particular chapter, it gives instruction for us of what we should do. (I strongly encourage you to read it on your own time to get the fulfillment you need)

• Do not be angry
• Be still/silent with God
• Ponder and do a heart check
• Trust in your Father

Our feelings can often be more than we can bare. Yet, I was reminded of a couple of verses I wanted to share:

‘When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;

    and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;

when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,

    and the flame shall not consume you.’

(Isaiah 43:2, ESV)

and the other

‘But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.’

(James 1:6, ESV)

The first example is one of my favorite pieces, because of my history with God. Once upon a time I was out at sea, and during my trials God revealed to me that I had a new Captain in charge of my life. Him.

Sometimes we have to retrace our thoughts. Sometimes we need to remember where God brought us out of since the beginning. When we pass through these deep waters, God WILL be with us. There is no doubt when God speaks to us, none. He WILL be with you.

Don’t we remember? Faith is a risk, and with taking on this risk, comes unwavering faith. When we read- God will be with us, do we believe it? When we read- God is for us, do we believe it? OR when we read- God will deliver us, DO WE BELIEVE IT? Do we? We must, or else we will find ourselves allowing the troubles over take us. Allowing our enemies think that they have a shot of destroying the very thing God intends of rescuing you out of.

We may be weak, for God remembers that we are only dust (Psalms 103:14). Just as Pastor J.D. brights to the light, our brokenness is undervalued. What does this mean? It means that our weakness is actually very valued in the eyes of God. “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” (Psalms 34:18, ESV). Though our hearts beg for reassurance and rescue, we have the promise the Lord is not only near, but will redeem. Now here is my favorite part of all:

‘Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity; For the Lord has heard the voice of my weeping. The Lord has heard my supplication; The Lord will receive my prayer. Let all my enemies be ashamed and greatly troubled; Let them turn back and be ashamed suddenly.’

(Psalms 6:8-10, ESV)

It isn’t us who shall be afraid, no, but our enemies who should be very afraid. Our God HAS heard our requests. He HAS heard the cry of His children. Now expect God’s response.

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You can see Pastor J.D’s teaching here: