* Please note an unplanned epilogue for the seven statements by Jesus from the cross follows this piece, posted on June 30th.
Psalm 66:19 “…yet God has surely listened and heard my voice in prayer” (NIV).
I pray to God every day. As I have been unemployed for a long time, my prayers have been filled with distressed requests for a job. But up to today, I have not gained employment. Filling out online applications is a cold and impersonal process. Email rejections are even more cold and impersonal.
The bottom line is that no fitting door has opened yet for me.
And in the midst of my challenging job search, I was hurt in a church. It was a time when I needed extra comfort, yet instead there was hurt.
Has God been listening?
Many years ago, in the wake of graduating from college, I did some “temp” work. My first assignment from the temp company was to be a receptionist at the American Red Cross. When I arrived the first day in that grandiose building in Washington, D.C., a helpful woman got me situated at a switchboard. She showed me how to operate it, and her instructions were clear. Then she had me take a few calls while she was present in order to assist me if I needed help as I started. Then she left.
Soon after she left, a call came in, and I answered with the proper greeting. A person stated: “I’m bleeding profusely, and I need blood.”
For a moment I was stunned! Then as my mind was able to process the situation, my response was: “Dad!”
It was my dad’s voice. He had found out from my mom that I got a temp assignment there, and he was quick to play a joke.
My point is that even in a new place, doing a new job, and working with new equipment, I recognized Dad’s voice. And my dad had recognized my voice when I answered the call.
Our heavenly Father loves us. Our heavenly Father knows our voices. Our heavenly Father listens to our prayers. Our heavenly Father is working in alignment with the prayers of His children to guide and encourage us in the midst of the continuing problems in this world.
Even when circumstances are crummy, God pours out His love for you and me! We need to keep speaking and listening to Him.
Hunter
Scripture Love Blog
