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I Called upon the LORD in my distress

April 8, 2022

Jeremiah 20:7–13 | John 10:31–42 | Psalm 18:1–7

Psalm 18:6-7

6  I called upon the Lord in my distress *
and cried out to my God for help.

7  He heard my voice from his heavenly dwelling; *
my cry of anguish came to his ears.

* * *

There are many phrases that we hear regularly in this day and age. Be kind as you never know what someone is going through. God will only give you what you can handle. Your smile can brighten someone’s day. You can think of others, I’m sure.

I believe that many people in our world have suffered some kind of great loss in their lives. Perhaps in their younger years, as teenagers or as adults. It may have happened many years ago, or it could have happened yesterday.

We never know what individuals have experienced…what their loss might have been…what trauma they faced…how their lives have changed (for better or worse)…did they make a horrendous decision…what could they have done to change a situation that they had no control over. We never know…

But God does! God hears us when we shout out to him, or to ourselves, in our distress. When we seem paralyzed to act – or react. When all we can do is cry. When we question what has happened. When it seems that no one is there but ourselves. God is there! God hears our cries of anguish and is always there for us.

As a mother or father cradles a child who has been hurt to provide comfort and love, God does the same. We are never alone. When we consume the bread and wine at the Eucharist, we physically have God within us. Spiritually…God is always there.

We may question God’s presence when we are hurting  –  but have faith! God is always there to comfort and love us!!

Doreen C. Putnam