02/28/2024
We can find ourselves waiting on the answer to a prayer that doesn’t seem to be coming, or at least coming anytime soon. We are suffering, or waiting to be rescued, and yet all we hear is the silence of God. But friends, we can rest assured of two things today; the first is that someone is experiencing this right now (possibly you) as they read these words, and the second is that help is on the way. We might lose hope as we suffer through the pain and fear in our lives, but God is ever faithful and true. When we feel lost or abandoned do we continue to pray? Or maybe we hear ourselves shouting out to the Lord in our frustration rather than finding strength in our anticipation and trust in Him.
“Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness!
You have given me relief when I was in distress. Be gracious to me and hear my prayer!”
Psalm 4:1 ESV
I read a story about a submarine that was broken, and was helplessly stranded on the ocean floor. They were in a terrible way and hope had faded away for any rescue. Listen to their story…
After two long days of lying on the ocean floor in their disabled submarine, the sub's crew members received orders from their commanding officer to sing the following hymn:
Abide with me! Fast falls the eventide.
The darkness deepens -- Lord, with me abide!
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, oh, abide with me!
After the hymn had been sung, the commander explained to his men that the hymn was his prayer for them and that he hoped it would hold the same meaning for them as it did for him. He then explained that based upon the best information he had, they did not have long to live. There was little or no hope of outside aid, because any searchers who might be on the surface did not know the submarine's position
Sedatives were distributed to the men to quite their nerves. One sailor, overcome at the commander's news, fainted. As he swooned, he fell against a piece of equipment, setting in motion the surfacing mechanism that had been jammed! The submarine rose to the surface safely and soon made port. If you have hit bottom in life, talk to God about it. He is always listening, and He will surely answer you when you reach out to Him for help.
From the book "God Speaks"
Page 64
Honor Books
ISBN 1-56292-857-0
It was only after the captain’s desperate hymn of prayer, and the total abandonment of any outside hope from man for their rescue, that God spoke. Quite often we find that in our moments of greatest desperation we too hear God’s voice when we turn loose of our troubles, and receive His answer. Are some of us finding that our hope is lost today, and if so, are we ready to turn to the Lord and take our own hand away?
Prayer:
Father, we thank you for your promise of action when we pray, and we trust in you to act in such a way that only good will come to us. Holy Father your will guides our rescue and relief from any situation we find ourselves in, and your provision, no matter how small it might seem, is enough. Help us Lord as we take our own hand away, and lean into you completely. Thank you in such moments for pouring hope over us where before there was only hopelessness. Let our faith and trust in you give us peace, and allow us to rest in your arms. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who is with us always, and never abandons us. You were with us in the realization of our woes, you are here with us in the moment of our first prayer for help, you are with us when we are shouting out our prayers in desperation, and you are here with us when in our final desperate prayer we lean without reservation on you. Even in your silence we praise your name and trust in you. In your every answer we give you the glory, and become witnesses of your love, faithfulness, truth, and might. In the simply whispered answers, or the amazingly awesome miracles we praise your name, and give you all the glory. Hear us today Father, and take from us this burden, no matter its origin or size. Great are you Father, and greatly to be praised.
“Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.”
Psalm 55:22 CSB
Amen
Rich Forbes