There is a popular hymn we sing called Hear Me When I Call and it was written by a man, who sat in the corner of a funeral home, during the visitation for his wife who had just passed away. In what is a dark moment for anyone, he remembered the words of our reading and penned that beautiful song:

Hear me when I call, O God, my righteousness,

Unto Thee I come in weakness and distress.

Hold my trembling hand, lest helpless, I should fall,

O hear me, Lord, hear me, O hear me when I call!

Hear my cry, O God, attend unto my prayer,

More and more I need Thy mercy and Thy care.

Clouds of doubt arise, and faith grows weak and small, 

O hear me, Lord, hear me, O hear me when I call!

Are there not times in our lives when we feel the same emotion? As I think about that song and David’s Psalm, “Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have relieved me in my distress; have mercy on me and hear my prayer.” (Psalm 4:1), a few things come to my mind.

First, we all have those dark times that weigh on our souls. It is impossible to constantly be on the “mountaintop” of life. Even in the life of our Lord we see the highs and the lows. From the celebration of the wedding feast at Cana of Galilee (John 2) to the pain of facing the cross (John 17). From the multitudes that pressed closer to hear Him, “And behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue. And he fell down at Jesus’ feet and begged Him to come to his house, for he had an only daughter about twelve years of age, and she was dying. But as He went, the multitudes thronged Him” (Luke 8:41, 42) to the four people that stood by the cross, “Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!”(John 19:25, 26). Jesus truly was a man “of sorrows and acquainted with grief” (Isaiah 53:3). Take comfort in knowing that that in those dark times, it’s okay to feel that but understand that Jesus knows what you are feeling, let Him help you. 

But then secondly, we think we understand what people are going through, but we really don’t, at least not until you have to face the darkness of death or illness or loss. I always thought I understood what people felt as I would conduct funerals for their parent that just died, but it was not unto my mother passed away could I truly empathize with them. I’m grateful I’ve never had a major surgery, but I feel inadequate trying to comfort someone that has. But here’s the good news, God knows how you feel, let Him help you, “For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15).

Lastly, you can truly appreciate the thought of knowing that God hears your prayers, and if you are a child of God, He will comfort you. He is the God of all comfort “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation.” (2 Corinthians 1:3-7).

By: Justin Odom