In Psalm 116, the writer says I love the Lord, for He heard my voice.  Just the fact that God is God is enough to deserve my love.  Throw in the fact that He listens to me when I’m in trouble, and you’ve got Christian Yahtzee.  My first reading of this Psalm made me thankful for God’s faithfulness.  Then came the conviction.  It occurred to me that I’ve compartmentalized troubles to a cubicle instead of bringing them before the Lord.  These troubles are the ones that cross my mind at night and shout again when I wake up in the morning.  Why am I not crying out to God about this?

If I don’t cry out, God doesn’t respond.  If I run to the living room and say “Yes, Emmy?” to my wife who hasn’t called me, I look crazy and she gets concerned.  God is a gracious Father who is waiting — eagerly — for His children to say something that He can respond to.  In trouble?  No worries, mate!  (for our Australian readers).

I shouldn’t wonder why the mechanic isn’t fixing my truck while it’s still in the driveway.  I need to take it in.  I need to say “something is wrong with this — and I believe you can fix it.” That’s all it takes!  Until I say something, nothing gets done.

Have you noticed that most situations don’t work themselves out?  Me too, though I keep trying out that strategy again and again.

How do I say something?  Through prayer.  We cry out to God, He’s faithful, He rescues, and we’re thankful.  And what do you do to pay God back for the rescue?  Well, you can’t pay Him back.  What shall I return to the Lord for all His goodness to me?

A solid “Thank You” followed by obedient living.  If I am redeemed, I become a servant of the Lord.  So I serve.  It’s hard to think about serving the Lord when you’re worried.  Tough to be fully committed if you can’t conceive a viable solution for tomorrow.  But God has this.  Let Him.  I wonder if our obedience problem starts with our grand assumption that we can handle our stuff on our own?

Join me in crying out.  He hears us.