Honest Cries

“But in my distress I cried out to the LORD; yes, I prayed to my God for help. He heard me from his sanctuary; my cry to him reached his ears.”—Psalm 18:6 NLT

How do we respond to problems? We can learn much from David’s example.

He faced many kinds of problems—some serious, some minor, and some life threatening. But in each case, he learned to turn to God. He prayed fervently and intensely, regardless of the severity of the problem.

He was not afraid to cry out to God and seek Him with a boldness that reflected the concerns of his heart. When feeling panic, he cried to God for His mercy and help (Psalm 31:22).

At a time when his heart was overwhelmed, he waited patiently for God’s help. “And he turned to me and heard my cry” (Psalm 40:1). Wherever he was, David turned to God: “From the ends of the earth, I cry to you for help when my heart is overwhelmed.” He felt that God provided him with a “towering rock of safety” (Psalm 61:2).

What needs do you have? Do you face problems that don’t seem to have solutions? The Bible encourages you to pray. Don’t hesitate to cry out to Him. Don’t hesitate to pray with a sense of desperation, passion, and intensity. Be persistent in prayer no matter how serious the situation might seem, how strong the opposition, or how hopeless the problem might seem.

Pray with persistence and intensity. Pray with faith and honesty. Cry out to God.

Reflection Question: Compose a heartfelt prayer for protection and provision.