Jeremiah 29:12 – Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.
Psalm 145:18 – The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.
Ephesians 3:20-21 – Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
We all have prayed. We have dared to ask for the small and the tremendous. We have come on our knees, with broken hearts and our soul lifted to God and pleaded to Him “Oh God, You who are wonder above all wonder, I hold up to you, a battered and wounded soul. I have hurt it. I did not stop with a simple wound, but I fed it filth and dragged it behind me while tethered to my belt. I have not honored the gift you have given me. Now my merciful God, I plead with you to heal what I have destroyed. Oh God, heal my soul, mend my heart, set me again on the path of Your choosing. Lord God, do what only You can do, let the rivers of love, peace and joy wash over me and through me. Let them cleanse me and make me strong. Let them fill me with hope that comes from the knowledge of You and from Your Word. It matters not the error that caused my state, it matters not the depth that brought me to such great sorrow. What matters is to whom our soul is presented to for healing. Do we seek healing for it to counterfeit healers or to the One who can eternally heal us? Do we offer our souls to the One who loves it and has the power to heal it, and to mend relationships?
About a bit ago I committed a great hurt. I deeply wounded another and the wound also deeply pierced my heart and soul. Hurt within me was never more profound. I cried out to God for forgiveness and a double healing. I knew I was forgiven by God. I was because God hears the confessions and sorrow of a contrite heart (Psalm 51:17). However, as I well know, sometimes, though forgiven, the earthly consequences of our errors are permanent. I prayed the consequences for me hurting another would not be permanent. I have been walking in the darkness of the consequence. I thought that the dark of the consequence would cling to me forever. I resigned myself to be free in spirit but not so on earth. Yet one day I saw what appeared to be sliver of light breach the darkness. Then the sliver grew wider. It has grown wider still. Though unsureness of the ending remains, hope has begun to build a firm foundation within the ray of light. I see the kindness and grace of God extended to me. Not that I deserve it, but as is the nature of God, it is because of who God is. A dry and arid summer is breaking.
God hears our prayers. He has not forgotten what we asked even if we have thought that the prayer may not be answered. If we, in humility, ask God and continue to seek, if we continue trusting when nothing appears in sight, if we continue to love others and honestly accept blame (as applicable), we can be sure that He who loves us will continue to give us hope.
God hears our prayers. God loves to answer the prayers of His. When we call upon Him He will listen to us. The Lord remains near to His and to those who call out in honesty to Him. When He answers, He answers with blessings beyond our hopes. God has heard me. He knew what He had in store even as my hope for healing dwindled. No, I have not seen the full healing. But I have seen light. Hope is building a fire within. Family, God is good all the time and He loves us. Let us pray to the Lord and keep hope alive. Pray to our God for things that please Him. God hears. God listens. God loves to grant righteous prayers. Indeed He is good and loves us. Thank You Lord! Praise the Lord who restores hope! Praise the Lord!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown You, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with Your God.