Readings from the Old Testament / Hebrew Scriptures

We can safely approach God and cry out in anguish for a response.

But as for me, I will pray to you, LORD;
answer me, God, at a time you choose.
Answer me because of your great love,
because you keep your promise to save.
Save me from sinking in the mud;
keep me safe from my enemies,
safe from the deep water.
Don’t let the flood come over me;
don’t let me drown in the depths
or sink into the grave.

Answer me, LORD, in the goodness
of your constant love;
in your great compassion turn to me!
Don’t hide yourself from your servant;
I am in great trouble – answer me now!
Psalm 69.13-17

We can be certain like the psalmist that God will answer our heartfelt cries for help.

Listen to me, LORD, and answer me,
for I am helpless and weak.

Save me from death, because I am
loyal to you;
save me, for I am your servant
and I trust in you.
You are my God, so be merciful to me;
I pray to you all day long.
Make your servant glad, O LORD,
because my prayers go up to you.
You are good to us and forgiving,
full of constant love for all who
pray to you.

Listen, LORD, to my prayer;
hear my cries for help.
I call to you in times of trouble,
because you answer my prayers.
Psalm 86.1-7

Even when we feel lonely, God will listen to our cries for help.

I love the LORD, because he hears me;
he listens to my prayers.
He listens to me every time I call to him.
The danger of death was all around me;
the horrors of the grave closed in on me;
I was filled with fear and anxiety.
Then I called to the LORD,
“I beg you, LORD, save me!”
The LORD is merciful and good;
our God is compassionate.
The LORD protects the helpless;
when I was in danger, he saved me.
Be confident, my heart,
because the LORD has been good to me.
The LORD saved me from death;
he stopped my tears and kept me from defeat.
And so I walk in the presence of the LORD
in the world of the living.
I kept on believing, even when
I said, “I am completely crushed,”
even when I was afraid and said,
“No one can be trusted.”
What can I offer the LORD
for all his goodness to me?
Psalm 116.1-12

Readings from the New Testament

Jesus assured his followers that our suffering will not last forever.

“Happy are you poor; the Kingdom of God is yours!”
“Happy are you who are hungry now; you will be filled!”
“Happy are you who weep now; you will laugh!”
“Happy are you when people hate you, reject you, insult you,
and say that you are evil, all because of the Son of Man!
Be glad when that happens, and dance for joy,
because a great reward is kept for you in heaven.
For their ancestors did the very same things to the prophets.”
Luke 6.20-23

In the midst of our despair and hopelessness, God gives us a hope that will give us strength and assurance.

Now that we have been put right with God through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. He has brought us by faith into this experience of God’s grace, in which we now live. And so we boast of the hope we have of sharing God’s glory! We also boast of our troubles, because we know that trouble produces endurance, endurance brings God’s approval, and his approval creates hope. This hope does not disappoint us, for God has poured out his love into our hearts by means of the Holy Spirit, who is God’s gift to us.
Romans 5.1-5

Just as the apostle Paul was honest about his sufferings and frustrations, we can be honest and forthright about our own struggles.

We do not want anyone to find fault with our work, so we try not to put obstacles in anyone’s way. Instead, in everything we do we show that we are God’s servants by patiently enduring troubles, hardships, and difficulties. We have been beaten, jailed, and mobbed; we have been overworked and have gone without sleep or food. By our purity, knowledge, patience, and kindness we have shown ourselves to be God’s servants – by the Holy Spirit, by our true love, by our message of truth, and by the power of God. We have righteousness as our weapon, both to attack and to defend ourselves. We are honored and disgraced; we are insulted and praised. We are treated as liars, yet we speak the truth; as unknown, yet we are known by all; as though we are dead, but as you see, we live on. Although punished, we are not killed; although saddened, we are always glad; we seem poor, but we make many people rich; we seem to have nothing, yet we really possess everything.
2 Corinthians 6.3-10

Thoughts for Reflection

1. Do you believe that you need an answer from God for your own suffering and despair? Write or share why you feel this way.
2. And when you have no answers to your despair, how do you react?
3. What is most comforting for you when you despair without answers?
4. Describe these things. Like the psalmist, write a lament to God in which you cry out your frustrations.

Prayer

Dear Lord, I’m hurting and I’m in deep despair. I feel so hopeless and there are no answers for my heartache. In fact, I do not want answers! I simply want to cry and know you are listening. Even if I do not understand my present situation, I want to believe that you know the pain in my life.

Help me to know that you care and listen to my cries. In your name. Amen.