Heart Cry

Anita Delene Manthe
Aug 26, 2017
3 min read

Time moves on, life moves on, yet we are stuck. There is no moving forward for us and we feel like we’re trapped in an ongoing struggle. Our thoughts are consumed with our problems – we think of little else.

Day after day we rehearse in our hearts the overwhelming problems that are ours. We want out. We want to escape. However, rather than seek help from God – we internalize the problem and become bogged down. We isolate ourselves and attempt to sift and sort out the issues.

We look for resolution from our peers, we hope they’ll make sense of our situation and speak a word of encouragement. We look within our own hearts for understanding, hoping we’ll dig up some kind of rationality only to find we are without wisdom. Our friends can’t offer wise counsel, and we accept we’re incapable of finding a solution – or understanding it if it was provided.

How much time we waste when pride directs us to family, friends and our own limited understanding rather than leading us to cry out to God for His counsel. We’re too proud to humble ours heart’s to cry out to Him.

For many this is how they function – all the time! Day in and day out!

They have many counselors; family, friends, colleagues, and community. And, they progress from counselor to counselor telling their story over and over again. They never come to rest. They never do because they do not pray. They have not learned the necessity of crying out to God with the needs of their heart – whatever they are! They will speak to anyone and everyone, rather than speak to God.

We believe their profession of faith is true, but they have yet to learn the cry of faith – speaking, praying to the One they profess to trust. To trust Him, who waits to be the one into whose loving provision we escape. Provision of comfort, shelter, encouragement, strengthening, leading and directing. When we do this in our deepest trials we lose the necessity to solve and resolve and bring an end, closure to the problems – we gain what is more important – His presence. And, His promises.

How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day? … Consider and answer me, O LORD my God; light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death, … I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the LORD, because he has dealt bountifully with me (Psalm 13:2-6).
Look to the right and see: there is none who takes notice of me; no refuge remains to me; no one cares for my soul. I cry to you, O LORD; I say, "You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living." Attend to my cry, for I am brought very low! Deliver me from my persecutors, for they are too strong for me! Bring me out of prison, that I may give thanks to your name! The righteous will surround me, for you will deal bountifully with me (Psalm 142:4-7).
No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it (1 Corinthians 10:13).