February 18

The Cry Of The Oppressed

I chirp like a swallow or crane; I moan like a dove. My eyes grow weak as I look upward. O Lord, I am oppressed; be my security. — Isa 38:14 BSB

This prayer is so broad that it suits any situation and yet so full of faith that it entrusts all responsibility to God. Are you overwhelmed by failure, temptation, or sin? Or by poverty, debt, fear of unemployment, or the inability to find work? Are you weighed down by persecution, either from within or outside your home? Or are you struggling with ill-health, unable to see hope for recovery? All these oppressive situations are included in this prayer and can be handed over to your faithful Creator, with the assurance that He is willing and able to take care of you. He is never tired of hearing your cry, His arms are never weary, and He neither slumbers nor sleeps.

What can we expect from such a simple yet comprehensive prayer? We will know God. As Hezekiah said, "What shall I say? He has both spoken to me and done it" (Isaiah 38:15). Hezekiah had always been religious, maintaining temple services and enjoying the friendship of Isaiah, but it was only when he turned his face to the wall and poured out his soul that he truly met God. Only through sickness, loneliness, and overwhelming sorrow do some people fully learn to live and discover the unseen world where the spirit unfolds to God like a spring flower.

In our darkest moments, we learn of God’s love (Isaiah 38:17). How can we measure His love? They say a man’s fist measures the size of his heart. Look at the stars—that is God’s hand! Now imagine His heart. It is limitless. By His love, He has cast our sins behind His back into the depths of the sea. With that love, He draws us out of our sin. That same love bears with our coldness and weak prayers. By that love, He will bring us to glory—a love that will never let us go.

Take hold of Jesus’ hand to steady you. Look into the pit from which you have been rescued, then look up to the throne of God where He reigns. Remember His words: "Where I am, there you will be also." Trust Him to take care of your life.

Prayer

O Father, lead me into a simpler, more trusting faith. May I trust more than I know and believe more than I see. When my heart is overwhelmed, lead me to the Rock that is higher than I. Amen.