Have you struggled to sleep through the night because you were waiting for an answer?<\/p>\n
Maybe you are\u00a0waiting to hear back\u00a0when you can start work again.\u00a0Perhaps you want to hear the voice\u00a0of\u00a0your loved one\u00a0telling you\u00a0they are okay,\u00a0and you get anxious when you\u00a0do not\u00a0get a quick response.\u00a0Or you\u00a0struggle,\u00a0waiting to hear whether you got the job or got accepted to the school\u00a0of your choice.<\/p>\n
In Psalm 4,\u00a0God describes the very real struggle we feel when\u00a0we\u00a0pray\u00a0and God\u00a0does not seem to pick up and respond immediately.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnswer me when I call, O God of my righteousness!\u201d\u00a0(v.1)<\/em><\/p>\n Can you relate?<\/p>\n Have you\u00a0ever\u00a0said, \u201cPICK UP THE PHONE WHEN I CALL YOU!\u201d\u00a0as you wait for the \u201cBEEP\u201d to leave the voicemail for the person you are trying to reach?<\/p>\n The psalmist, David,\u00a0has\u00a0left a message\u00a0with God because\u00a0David\u00a0knows he\u00a0needs God\u2019s help. When he is distressed and restless\u00a0in the night, he\u00a0is confident that although he feels pressed in, God will answer and bring\u00a0relief.<\/p>\n \u201cYou have relieved me in my\u00a0distress;<\/em> Many of us are concerned\u00a0and feeling\u00a0pressed in right now.\u00a0It is\u00a0as if\u00a0the challenges and sufferings we are going through are boxing\u00a0us\u00a0into a corner with limited\u00a0options\u00a0for escape.\u00a0It\u00a0can feel\u00a0as though\u00a0our sufferings\u00a0have\u00a0put us in a straitjacket\u00a0with no options to move.\u00a0God\u00a0encourages\u00a0us\u00a0to\u00a0cry\u00a0out to\u00a0Him in prayer and confidently trust that\u00a0He\u00a0hears and\u00a0can\u00a0provide the relief we need. We should do this\u00a0even as we wait for\u00a0His answer.<\/p>\n God wants you to know something,\u00a0Christian friend.\u00a0The Lord hears\u00a0you\u00a0when you call to\u00a0Him.<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0He has better reception than you and I can imagine.\u00a0You must\u00a0know and believe that God\u00a0shows you special favor\u00a0as one of\u00a0His saints. He grants you special favor to approach\u00a0His throne\u00a0and\u00a0He\u00a0listens to your\u00a0concerns.<\/p>\n \u201cBut know that the Lord has set apart the godly man for Himself;<\/em> Right\u00a0now,\u00a0you have the King of the Universe\u2019s ear\u2014the One who is telling all the viruses in the world this\u00a0far\u00a0and no further.\u00a0The\u00a0One who sustains this world and\u00a0all\u00a0our lives.\u00a0He commands us to boldly come to\u00a0His throne of grace\u00a0for the\u00a0mercy and grace to\u00a0help in our time of need\u00a0(Hebrews 4:16).\u00a0He wants\u00a0us to\u00a0live\u00a0like members of\u00a0His family that recognize their need for their great Father (Romans\u00a08:15).<\/p>\n What an incredible privilege that He sets us apart, showing us special favor, by listening to our prayers even though we feel like we are in a straitjacket making a desperate call about a situation that seems suffocating!<\/p>\n In times of trouble,\u00a0many are quick to\u00a0be discouraged and\u00a0question\u00a0where to look\u00a0for goodness to come.<\/p>\n \u201cMany are saying, \u201cWho will show us any good?\u201d<\/em> Our God\u2019s power gives us hope to not be discouraged,\u00a0and we can even ask God to\u00a0act and transform the situation. Sometimes\u00a0He may do this, and other times\u00a0He gives us what we need to grow and endure through the adverse situations.\u00a0So, if you are tossing and turning,\u00a0wondering if God cares and will\u00a0He provide, remember the ways\u00a0He has been good.\u00a0Recall when you have found joy in\u00a0God\u00a0when times were especially hard.\u00a0Then compare these joyful but hard\u00a0times\u00a0to other times\u00a0when you were unhappy,\u00a0even when\u00a0times were\u00a0good,\u00a0and you experienced little hardship.\u00a0God wants our hearts\u00a0to recognize that\u00a0the joy we have in Him\u00a0is greater than\u00a0any\u00a0joy that comes from prospering materially in the world\u00a0during\u00a0these times.<\/p>\n Can you say,<\/p>\n \u201cYou have put gladness in my heart,<\/em> Remember that feeling of\u00a0relief\u00a0when you\u00a0were restless and\u00a0could not\u00a0sleep, and then\u00a0you\u00a0get the answer you were waiting for and your body\u00a0sinks\u00a0into the bed with peaceful\u00a0stillness.<\/p>\n Your loved\u00a0one\u00a0answers back and texts you\u00a0that\u00a0they are okay. You sigh with peace.<\/p>\n The email comes into your inbox that you were accepted for the job.\u00a0You have\u00a0this peace and joy that everything will be okay.<\/p>\n The answer from God that helps us\u00a0sleep\u00a0peacefully\u00a0is\u00a0knowing that God\u00a0makes us safe and secure.\u00a0This\u00a0is\u00a0what gives David peace as he goes to bed remembering the Lord\u00a0alone is his security and safety in times of trouble.<\/p>\nTrust Enough to\u00a0Make a Call and\u00a0Leave a Message<\/h2>\n
\nBe gracious to me and hear my prayer.\u201d (v.1)<\/em><\/p>\nKnow that You\u00a0Have\u00a0Signal\u00a0and Your God Has\u00a0the Best\u00a0Reception<\/h2>\n
\nThe Lord hears when I call to Him.\u201d (v.3)<\/em><\/p>\nRemember God\u2019s Goodness as You Wait<\/h2>\n
\nLift up the light of Your countenance upon us, O Lord!\u201d\u00a0(v.6)<\/em><\/p>\n
\nMore than when their grain and new wine abound\u201d (v.7)?<\/em><\/p>\nSleep Well, Knowing God\u00a0Cares for You<\/h2>\n