Saved from Troubles? (Psalm 35:6-7)

Today's scripture: Psalm 34:6-7

A few days ago, I wrote of how God answers prayers. Today's verses might cause a bit of angst in some people. I get that God answers prayers, they say. But one of today's verses says the Lord "saved [this poor man] out of all his troubles." I'm still in a mess of trouble, so is this really true?

Some people go to God's word and pull out a verse and then claim its truths for their own situations ... and then when things don't happen as the verse promised, they then doubt God's entire word.

I believe that God always answers prayers. Always. But we live in a fallen, sinful world, and sometimes, we go through heavy storms. People hurt us. Nature destroys property. We make poor choices. Troubles abound.

So, we cry out to the Lord. Does He hear us? Yes! He always hears our cries. And He always "saves [us] out of all [our] troubles." Really. He does. It doesn't always mean, however, that He ends the troubles. Sometimes, He carries us through the troubles we face.

My chronic pain hasn't ended, and for reasons only He knows, God continues to allow it. Even though my pain is relentless, every day, God carries me through it. He saves me ... every day.

If you're facing troubles today, cry out to the Lord. Let Him hear your voice, your pain. Perhaps He'll take the trouble away ... but if not, be confident He'll carry you through it.

Waiting on God (Galatians 2:1-3)

Today’s scripture: Galatians 2:1-3

We’ve talked about this before: God always answers prayers, but He answers differently, according to His will. The hardest answer to receive from God is “wait.”

Sometimes God just wants us to patiently await His work. Paul waited 14 years to continue his God-given journey. He was an itinerant missionary and knew God had designed a particular path for him to take. And he was patient, knowing God would reveal His will in His timing.

Have you prayed for something for a long time, yet you feel God hasn’t answered? Chances are, He’s asking you to wait and trust Him.

I’ve been praying well over 20 years for my husband’s salvation. I believe God is softening his heart, but so far, the answer has been, “Wait, my daughter.” It’s hard sometimes, but I know without doubt that God is faithful. I know with quiet certainty that He loves Russ so much more than I ever could. I know I can patiently and trustingly wait for the moment when the answer is finally, “Yes!”

We are invited to come to God and pray to Him, knowing He will listen. (See Jeremiah 29:12-13.) But we have to be ready to receive whatever His answer is. Even if He asks us to wait—for 14 years … or 20 years … or even longer.

The Mystery of Prayer (2 Corinthians 1:8-11)

Today's scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:8-11

Prayer is, for me at least, a great mystery. If God is omniscient, knowing all things, than He already knows what I’m going to pray before I even pray it. So why do we pray?

I think it’s because it keeps our focus on God and His will. We pray for healing or provision or strength, and we seek God’s will in each situation. We trust that He’ll do exactly what is right as He sees right. We hope in His sovereignty, knowing that all things will work out for His glory and our good (Romans 8:28).

Another reason we should pray is because when we’re praying for others, we think of them rather than ourselves. And it often puts things into perspective. When I pray for a friend with cancer, I realize how blessed I am, even with my daily aches and pains. When I’m reminded of a need for financial provision, I remember that God has given ample funds to take care of my daily needs.

Prayer is still a mystery to me, but I pray. I pray for God’s will in all things. I pray that my friends and family will find peace, will be provided for, and will be protected.

I pray for those who serve God full time. I pray for those who don’t yet know my Lord. I pray for our government, for our nation … for our world.

And I pray for you.

God Listens! (Psalm 20:9)

Today's scripture: Psalm 20:9

I know I’ve written about this before, but I have to write again … the Lord of the universe, the Sovereign Creator, the Alpha and Omega listens to us! And He answers us when we call out to Him!

Even though we so often fail Him, even though we let our focus drift from Him, He still lovingly hears our cries. He hears our prayers for intercession or healing or provision. And He always—always—answers.

A few days ago, I wrote how God answers prayers—yes, no, and wait. There’s never a time when He ignores us. There’s never a moment when He says, “I don’t think I’ll listen to [insert your name] today.”

It’s another mystery to think that God hears millions of voices simultaneously, but He does. And your voice is just as precious to Him as any other crying out to Him.

Call out to Him today, this very moment. Tell Him what’s on your heart. Lay it all at the foot of His throne. Know—beyond doubt—that He’s listening. Know—beyond doubt—that He’ll answer your call.

God Answers from His Holy Heaven (Psalm 20:6)

Today's scripture: Psalm 20:6

Oh, how I love the confidence we can have knowing that our Lord hears our prayers! And He always answers.

You’ve probably heard this before, but God always answers our prayers with either a “yes,” a “no,” or a “wait.” And if we pray within His will, we can be certain that His answer is perfect for us.

After I recommitted my life to Christ over 20 years ago, I prayed for months for a baby. And it seemed—to me, at least—God was saying “wait.” Well, that’s what my heart wanted to believe. It was only when I changed my prayer to “Lord, please give me a child or give me peace” that God answered with a decided “yes.” He gave me peace about remaining childless.

Since then, I’ve prayed for many things: provision, healing, my husband’s salvation.

Sometimes, God has answered “yes.” When we decided to become a one-income family four years ago, God blessed us with ample provision—and He continues to bless us.

Sometimes, God has answered “no.” I’ve written before that I suffer from several chronic health issues. It’s become clear to me over the years that God chooses not to heal me. But there’s also a “yes” because I daily experience the “saving strength of His right hand.”

And sometimes, God has answered “wait.” This is the answer I truly, deep-in-my-heart believe about my husband’s salvation. I believe he’s seeking truth, and I believe he’ll one day come to know the joy of a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Yes, God indeed “answers from His holy heaven.” And what a wonderful assurance it is to know how very true that is.

Your Heart's Desire (Psalm 20:2-4)

Today's scripture: Psalm 20:3-4

The Bible references this idea of God’s giving us our “heart’s desire” many times. And this can be taken either too lightly—God is the cosmic gumball machine where I can get anything I want—or without complete understanding. I wrote the following in my book, The Best Laid Plans. It seems quite appropriate today:

Many people point to certain verses they claim state that God will answer every prayer exactly the way they desire. They recite verses like Mark 11:24 where Jesus says, “whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.” They memorize Jesus’ words in Matthew 7:7-8 and state, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.”

Yes, people read and memorize and recite these words, and then, when they don’t get the answer they wanted, they claim that God isn’t who He says He is. This is very dangerous territory.  Yes, these verses and others do speak to asking and receiving, but it is so important, even crucial, that every prayer be uttered with the words, “Your will be done, Lord." (© Sauni Rinehart 2005)

When you focus on God and truly want His will for your life, His desires will be yours. He then will "grant you your heart's desire" ... because your desires will be His.

The Lord Answers (Psalm 20:1-2)

Today's scripture: Psalm 20:1-2

“Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen.
Nobody knows my sorrow.
Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen.
Glory hallelujah.”

The words from this old spiritual seem contradictory. Nobody knew the writer’s trouble and sorrow, but the he could still sing “glory hallelujah.”

Why? How?

Perhaps he was familiar with psalms such as the 20^th. Perhaps he knew his God would answer in the “day of trouble” and would hold him “securely on high.”

I’m so grateful to know that my God hears my prayers and cries for help in the days of trouble. When I’m in pain, He holds my hand … and sometimes He carries me. When my last ounce of energy is depleted, He gives me supernatural strength. And when I grieve, He wipes my tears.

The old spiritual may be right. Maybe nobody does know your trouble, your sorrow. Nobody on earth, that is.

But I kind of like the alternate lyrics:

“Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen.
Nobody knows but Jesus.
Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen.
Glory hallelujah.”

Saving from Troubles (Psalm 34:6-7)

Today's scripture: Psalm 34:6-7

A couple of days ago, I wrote of how God answers prayers. Today's verses might cause a bit of angst in some people. I get that God answers prayers, they say. But one of today's verses says the Lord "saved [this poor man] out of all his troubles." I'm still in a mess of trouble, so is this really true?

Some people go to God's word and pull out a verse and then claim its truths for their own situations ... and then when things don't happen as the verse promised, they then doubt God's entire word.

I believe that God always answers prayers. Always. But we live in a fallen, sinful world, and sometimes, we go through heavy storms. People hurt us. Nature destroys property. We make poor choices. Troubles abound.

So, we cry out to the Lord. Does He hear us? Yes. He always hears our cries. And He always "saves [us] out of all [our] troubles." Really. He does. It doesn't always mean, however, that He ends the troubles. Sometimes, He carries us through the troubles we face.

My chronic pain hasn't ended, and for reasons only He knows, God continues to allow it. Even though my pain is relentless, every day, God carries me through it. He saves me ... every day.

If you're facing troubles today, cry out to the Lord. Let Him hear your voice, your pain. Perhaps He'll take the trouble away ... but if not, be confident He'll carry you through it.