A note from Kelly King: Someone very close to me is going through a time of emotional pain. As much as I want to help and make things better, I know the answer is in the Lord’s help. As Kaye reminds us today, it’s ok to cry out for help when difficulties surround us. God is near.
Psalm 18:6 says, “In my distress I called to the LORD; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears” (NIV).
I experienced the promise of this recently, and it is legit.
I had been struggling personally with some emotional pain related to our recent life transition to Florida. Sometimes knowing what causes pain doesn’t make it any less painful. I did all the “things” I knew to do—processed my pain with a few trusted friends, prayed and enlisted prayer support, along with ordering my days to reflect healthier choices. All good things, necessary things, needed things. But they didn’t relieve the angst I was feeling deep in my soul.
One afternoon in my car, the Lord brought to mind Psalm 18:6, a verse I had memorized a few years ago. As I reflected on that verse, I felt the prompt to do what is says to do—cry out to my God for help. So I did. I cried out to the Lord. I mean, I CRIED OUT to the Lord. In my car, in full voice I cried, “Help me, help me!” That was it.
Beginning about six hours later and over the next twenty-four hours, He responded in no less that seven specific ways. He spoke to my spirit through nature, through His Word, through a co-worker, and through a random word of encouragement from a far away friend who knew nothing of my situation.
That word cried in the original language means, “To cry out, aloud, shout for help or freedom from some trouble.” It also means to ask for aid, to implore. That’s just what I did, and guess what? Crying out for help, helped.
When we cry out to God for help we can be certain of two things:
- He hears
- He answers
Are you feeling stuck? Are you experiencing emotional pain over life circumstances? Do you feel like you’ve “done” all you can “do”? Will you please cry out to God? Maybe you have, and your help didn’t come instantly. Don’t stop. Trust that the Lord hears and will answer you.
When you cry out to Him, it is important to believe He will answer and watch and listen for how that answer will come; it may be as subtle as the hope from a sunrise or the beauty of a sunset leading you to trust His faithfulness. You see, my “answers” weren’t specific reasons for a thing, they were gentle words of hope, faith, love, and trust that strengthened my faith.
Because we are forgetful, remember to record in your journal or Bible just how the Spirit spoke to you and respond with gratitude.
Along with Psalm 18:6, be encouraged by these words of hope from Scripture:
Psalm 107:20: “He sent out his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave” (NIV).
Psalm 119:28: “My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word” (NIV).
Thank you, Father, that You hear us and answer us when we cry out to You. Hear now Your daughters who are crying out to you in their pain and desperation and speak tenderly to their spirits, Amen.
Kaye Hurta has a Masters Degree in counseling from Liberty University and is a crisis counselor for Women’s Events through Lifeway Christian Resources. Whether speaking, singing, or listening, Kaye’s passion is to help others find intimacy with Christ and soul transformation through the living pages of His Word. Kaye met and married her husband Chris in Austin, Texas in 1987. They have two daughters through the miracle of adoption, Madison and Cami. Kaye is also a contributing author for the Lifeway resource, Women Reaching Women in Crisis.
