Hello?!?
Lord, hear my prayer! Let my cry reach you! Don’t hide your face from me in my time of trouble! Listen to me! Answer me quickly as I cry out! – Psalm 102:1-2 (CEB)
Have you ever talked with someone who won’t give you a second to think before they cry out: “Hello?!? Did you hear me? Respond!” In less gracious moments, I get annoyed. What’s so urgent? I heard you. Let me think a minute!
Sometimes what presents as impatience is really anguished longing. The person has been hurting, holding on, enduring pain gone unabated, cries gone unanswered. Each second of delay feels like a torturous hour. Recognizing that, I want to respond quickly and join them in their cry.
Psalm 102 is titled “A prayer of one afflicted” or “A prayer of an oppressed person, when weak and pouring out grief to the Lord.” Several psalms echo this same message: “I’m suffering, I’ve cried out to you. How long will you hide your face? Hello?!? Did you hear me? Respond!” The ache of abandonment and desperation is palpable. Where is the One who has done great things, rescued and preserved us from danger, defeated our enemies and raised us up?
What if no response is God’s response? What if God’s silence is not apathy or abandonment, but an invitation? A pause for us to respond? If God’s face is turned from us, is God facing towards those who could help us? And if God is facing us, might that mean God is expecting us to respond?
What if, instead, God is the one impatiently crying out, “Hello?!? Did you hear me? Respond!”
Prayer
prayer: Hello?!? Are you there, God? Your people are crying out. I know you can hear them. Quickly: let’s respond. Amen.
About the AuthorChris Mereschuk (he/him) is an Unsettled Pastor and the Founder of RevCJM, LLC, specializing in church vitality and Legacy consulting and coaching.