“In my distress I called upon the Lord;
to my God I cried for help.
From his temple he heard my voice,
and my cry to him reached his ears.”
– Psalm 18:6
This is David’s story but it’s true for all of God’s people. If you’re in Christ, this is your story! God hears you when you call to Him. When you’re in distress, call upon the Lord and know that He’s listening. Cry out for help. He absolutely hears you, you don’t need to wonder or doubt. Your voice is heard and your cries touch the heart of your loving Father in Heaven.
That doesn’t mean you’ll get instant relief. David certainly didn’t. He wrote this psalm when everything finally came together and he was safe, at last, from all his enemies. That relief from his distress was years in coming. Before that day, there was a great deal of danger, running away, living like an outlaw, and hiding in caves. Nonetheless, God always heard David’s cries. God always cared for the man after His own heart. God was always with David, guiding, protecting, and strengthening him. Likewise, God will be with you and sustain you in your distress, however long it may last. You aren’t alone, your prayers aren’t bouncing off the ceiling, God loves you.
Then why did David’s relief take so long to arrive? Why did God wait so long to set His anointed one free from his distress? Because David’s time in the wilderness, in the caves, and in distress made him who he needed to be. That time forged his character and solidified his faith. That time taught David to completely rely on God and to recognize His presence even in the darkest seasons of life. David wouldn’t have been the king he became if he hadn’t spent so much time in the wilderness crying out to God. God left David there because He loved him and had great things prepared for him. Nonetheless, God was with him every step of the way, he was never abandoned or ignored.
This is also true for you. You may well be going through a long season in the wilderness. That doesn’t mean God is deaf, distant, or uncaring. It means He’s forging your character in Christ, strengthening and ripening your faith, and giving you opportunity to know Him better. Keep praying, keep trusting, draw near to God and He will draw near to you. #FollowJesus