If They Cry Out to Me…

Not long ago, as I was reading through the Bible for my devotional time, I found myself being drawn to all the places where people cry out to the Lord. It was striking to me that throughout scripture people cry out to God – a lot – both individuals and the whole community together. They cry out when they are hurting, oppressed, hungry, poor, lost, and when they feel far from God. The beautiful thing is, whenever the people cry out, God answers. God responds.

There seems to be something about coming to the point where we know that we need God’s grace and need God’s healing that opens us to receive it. When you find yourselves in the dangerous and difficult places of life, may you remember the witness of our scriptures – God is faithful. In the book of Exodus, God says, “If they cry out to me… I will certainly hear their cry.”

Let us pray: O Lord God, you are our light and our salvation, whom shall we fear? We remember how time and time again, people have reached out to you and you have answered. We have cried and you have saved. Today we cry out to you again. We cry out for those who are lonely, those who feel the weight of the world on their shoulders, for those who are desperate for healing, or for love, or even for food and shelter. We cry out to you for those who are in harm’s way. Come save and deliver. Come rescue and heal and comfort. Come and show us the way to new life. Amen.