Evening, Morning & Noon, I Cry Out in Distress
I think one of the great challenges in life as a Christian is the daily battle for belief in Jesus’ presence and care. It’s “easier” to believe this when we’ve experienced some spiritual high at summer camp or during a moving worship service or upon hearing a powerful testimony. But in every day life, I know thoughts sometimes creep into my mind like “God is busy with more important matters than you today.” Or “God will be back when you face you face your next trial.” Or “God doesn’t really care about that.”
It’s not true. But we may feel like it especially when we go through times where we have to endure something difficult over several months; a cancer diagnosis and the subsequent treatment; a grievance at work that involves us and will take weeks to work through; a teenage child whose going through a rebellious season or parenting young children who constantly demand attention.
Some face challenging life situations that will last not months but lifetimes; parenting a special needs child; adjusting to life as a single parent after a spouse’s death or departure; diagnosis of a life altering condition that cannot be cured; recovery from a serious accident; traveling the long journey of grief over the loss of a child.
Thankfully, God does not save us from our sins when we first come to Him and then leave us until the moment we die. He is present with us for every moment of our lives. David, the Psalm writer, experienced this. In Psalm 55, he faced a very tough situation of personal betrayal. As he works through it in the Psalm, he makes this striking claim:
Psalm 55:17 – “Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice.” David would call out all day amidst his distress and sensed the Lord heard his cry. John Newton, (Author of Amazing Grace) confirmed this conviction in one of his letters.”
“Jesus is always near, about our path by day, and our bed by night; nearer than the light by which we see, or the air we breathe; nearer than we are to ourselves; so that not a thought, not a sigh, or a tear, escape his notice.”
Whether in distress or just going about an ordinary day, evening, morning or noon you can cry out or call out and He will hear your voice.
“Lord Jesus, I don’t know how you can possibly be close to me and the other several hundred million Christians on earth at the same time. Yet you are God and I am not. Thank you for your presence, listening ear and attentiveness to our needs. We believe but help us in our unbelief of your daily ongoing presence and concern.”