Cry out to the Lord and He will Deliver Us!

As I ponder what has happened to the world and our country, I thought about the storm that made Jesus’ disciples fearful.  Jesus was sleeping, which would indicate that He certainly was not afraid, nor was he worried!  You know the story, which can be found in Luke 8:22-25, Matt 8:23-27 and Mark 4:35-41.  In Matthew Jesus said to them “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith? In Luke He said, “Where is your faith?”  In Mark He said “How is it the you have no faith?”  The good news is that Jesus said the words and it was immediately calm.  The disciples were in amazement that “even the wind and waves obey Him.”  They didn’t have faith, but they cried out to Him and asked for help and He provided a miracle. 

Think about this.  Many of the disciples were hardened fisherman, they were in storms before, and I’m sure they dealt with perilous circumstances.  Think about how bad that storm was for them to be fearful!  It had to be fierce and unexpected.  I’m sure it came suddenly and caught them by surprise, sound familiar?  You might say, “you can’t compare ‘wind and waves’ to the corona virus crisis we are all facing” and I agree with you, however, for those suddenly fearing for their lives, fear of death is fear of death.  The biggest difference is what we are facing today is widespread and is shaking the world system like we have not seen in our lifetime. 

So let’s call the corona virus crisis our storm, the great storm of 2020!  Job 26:12 states that “He stirs up the sea with His power, and by His understanding He breaks up the storm.”  He stirs it up and He breaks it up!  Nahum 1:3 “The Lord has His way in the whirlwind and the storm, and the clouds are the dust of His feet.”  The Lord is in control and the clouds are the dust of His feet.  It is during times like this that we need to dig deep and have faith, even if your faith is weak, cry out to Him and He will deliver you!.  He is still on His throne and the corona virus has not caught Him by surprise.  He is watching us; His eye is on us for good! 

“Behold the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, on those who hope in His mercy, to deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.  Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and our shield.  For our heart shall rejoice in Him, because we have trusted His holy name.  Let your mercy, O Lord, be upon us, just as we hope in You.   Psalm 33:18-22

Yes, His eye is on us for good, He desires to use the worst of circumstances for His good!  He is also testing us!  “The Lord looks down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there are any who understand, who seek God.” Psalms 14:2  He is watching us and measuring our steps, our intentions, our actions!  He wants us to cry out to Him, He wants us to rejoice in Him, He wants us to proclaim His goodness, He wants us to give thanks!  Upon review of Psalm 107 we can have confidence that if we cry out to Him, He will deliver us! 

Psalm 107

Give Thanks!

Vs1-2 Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, Whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy.

Cry out!

Vs6-9 Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, And He delivered them out of their distresses. And He led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city for a dwelling place. Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men! For He satisfies the longing soul and fills the hungry soul with goodness.

Even if you feel like you are guilty, if you feel like you are not worthy, if you have rebelled against God: cry out, He will forgive and deliver you.  Then you will give thanks and praise to Him!  He desires our praise! 

Vs10-15 Those who sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, Bound in affliction and irons— Because they rebelled against the words of God, And despised the counsel of the Most High, Therefore He brought down their heart with labor; They fell down, and there was none to help. Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, And He saved them out of their distresses. He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death and broke their chains in pieces. Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men!

Vs 16-21 For He has broken the gates of bronze and cut the bars of iron in two. Fools, because of their transgression and because of their iniquities, were afflicted. Their soul abhorred all manner of food and they drew near to the gates of death. Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, And He saved them out of their distresses. He sent His word and healed them and delivered them from their destructions. Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men!

The Lord desires our Thanksgiving, He considers it a sacrifice!

Vs 22 Let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving and declare His works with rejoicing.

VS 28-31 Then they cry out to the LORD in their trouble, And He brings them out of their distresses. He calms the storm, So that its waves are still. Then they are glad because they are quiet; So He guides them to their desired haven. Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men!

The Lord can destroy and He can restore!

Vs 33-36 He turns rivers into a wilderness, And the water springs into dry ground; A fruitful land into barrenness, For the wickedness of those who dwell in it. He turns a wilderness into pools of water, And dry land into water springs. There He makes the hungry dwell, That they may establish a city for a dwelling place.

Are you fearful?  Are you hungry for more?  Are you hungry for God?  He is shaking the earth and He is watching us to see what we will do, how we will react!  Cry out to Him, show Him your hunger and He will establish you for it is His great pleasure to do so!