She raised up on the bed, writhing in pain.
I’d watched my wife suffer from kidney stones before. For a week, her abdominal pain had worsened to the point that it merited a trip to the local emergency room. After a shot of morphine and a CT scan, the doctors sent her home—no explanation but no emergency either.
Four days later, the pain had intensified. We made another trip. As pain shot through her abdomen, causing her to almost come off the bed, nurses shot her with morphine…again. Nothing helped. After they changed my wife’s pain medication, she finally found some relief. Seeing her pain—and hearing my frustration—the doctor finally consented to perform another CT scan. This time, the culprit raised its ugly head: diverticulitis.
I’ve watched others struggle with more pain than my wife experienced. Some cry out to God; some cry out against God. Others curse and cry. Some bite their tongues and close their eyes.
The psalmist chose to cry out to God. A jealous king—and other enemies—was after him. He needed deliverance. And David believed God heard him.
“But in my distress I cried out to the Lord; yes, I prayed to my God for help. He heard me from his sanctuary; my cry to him reached his ears” (Psalm 18:6 NLT).
Jesus was God’s representative on earth. He said to see him was to see the Father. He also proclaimed that he always did the Father’s will. One trait he demonstrated consistently was his concern for others. He continually went about doing good. As people heard of his love and miracles, they hounded him when he approached their region or left their homes to find him.
Though no longer here personally and tangibly, Jesus still cares when we face distressing circumstances. And there is no end to what can cause us pain, sorrow, frustration, and confusion. Regardless of what it is—whether small or large—Jesus wants us to cry out to him as David did. Time is of no concern. God is up continuously. He doesn’t rest or sleep, nor is he confined by time. It’s never too late to call upon him.
How God hears the thousands who pray to him simultaneously is unexplainable and requires a leap of faith to believe. But he does and demonstrates he does by answering our prayers according to his will, which is perfect.
When you’re in distress, call on the One who always cares and answers.
–Photo by Samuel Martins on Unsplash
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