I was mute and silent, I refrained even from good, and my sorrow grew worse.
And now, Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in You. Psalm 39: 2, 7 NASB

 

     David, a mighty warrior, laments his sin. He is a squatter before a holy God. His heart is heavy . . . feelings and thoughts blaze; he guards his tongue, even though he has no words, good or bad. Silence doesn’t ease his pain. His only hope is to pour out his sorrow to the one who grants breath. Therefore, David cries out, “Turn your gaze from me that I may smile again!”

     David wasn’t the first to struggle with despair, nor will he be the last! 

     The Lord took note of Sarai’s barrenness and recalled His promise to her; and she became pregnant at an age most woman rock to their past lullabies and put themselves to sleep. Still, God’s blessing wasn’t enough to quench Sarai’s jealousy, and she turned on her slave. Hagar fled her abusive mistress, but the angel of the Lord found her in the desert and commanded her to return and submit to her authority. The angel of the Lord blessed Hagar and promised to multiply her descendants through a son named Ishmael. 

     Ishmael means “God hears!” Hagar was reminded daily of Truth when she called her son by name. 

     A mighty, fallen warrior and a rejected slave lifted up their voices and wept; and God heard them.   

     The Psalms are full of examples of God responding to David’s cries for help and deliverance. In Psalm 3, when David cried out, God answered from His holy mountain, and David lay down unafraid and slept.

God addressed Hagar, “Where have you come from, and where are you going?” Tell me about it! Hagar called the Lord “El Roi,” for He is a strong God who sees all. However, God not only saw her troubles, He wanted her to pour out her heart and misery to Him. And God desires the same of us! 

     There are days and weeks and winters where grief smacks us voiceless and motionless, and we cannot see past the briars and branches to the well of refreshment that God provides. However, He is unafraid of our emotions, the fleeing, flailing, fisting and dead-weight of defeat. And He invites us to draw near to Him.

Whatever you face today, whether you’re the fallen fighter, weary parent, or oppressed worker, God sees. And He longs for you to speak with Him. Choose intimacy. Be blessed!

Trusting in Jesus,

Lily Mae       

So Sarai treated her harshly and she fled from her presence. Now the angel of the Lord found her by a spring of water in the wilderness . . . and He said, “Hagar, Sarai’s maid, where have you come from and where are you going?” And she said, “I am fleeing from the presence of my mistress Sarai.” Genesis 16: 6-8 NASB