Several times a day, for the last two months, I have jumped out of bed in the night or ran in the direction of our baby crying. It’s almost as if I couldn’t get to her fast enough, though I’m never too far from her. The only way a baby knows how to communicate is by crying. They’re trying to tell us that something is bothering them and they need help. So you can imagine that wherever I am in the house, my ears are always alert in case she starts crying.

The other day, when I was praying, I had this imagery of God, our good Father running toward us when we cry out to Him. His arms holding us and comforting us. If a mother like me cares about her child when she cries, how much more does our Father in Heaven care about His children when they call out to Him in their distress? The best part is that He knows exactly what we need and is able to help us in every way.

“Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭49‬:‭15‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The more I read scripture, the more I see examples of people crying out to God. Hagar cried out to God in the wilderness and God heard her. Hannah cried out to God for a child and she was blessed with a son. The Psalms are filled with David crying out to God for help which is a great guide for when you can’t find the words to pray yourself.

Jesus most certainly cried out and prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane and angels were sent to minister to Him. And that makes me wonder, if Jesus cried out to God in prayer, what is stopping us from doing so? Or rather, how much more should we do so? There are so many more examples in the Bible of people crying out to God. Kings, prophets, mothers and all sorts of people cried out to God for help and God heard them.

“Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.”
‭‭Joel‬ ‭2‬:‭12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

When we cry out to God, we are completely entrusting ourselves to God knowing that we cannot do anything without His grace. Our God is compassionate, merciful and kind. Knowing this will help us remember that we are not crying out to a God far away or silent but rather to a God who loves us and hears us.

“Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy. Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭126‬:‭5‬-‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The Bible tells us that God keeps track of our troubles and collects our tears in a bottle and God records it in His book. Take a minute to imagine that. Every time you cry out to God, not only does he collect your tears in a bottle but He writes it down in His book. If you are still doubting if God hears you today, here is your reminder that He does more than listen!

“You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book.” Psalm 56:8

I want to challenge you this week to cry out to God in prayer today. What are the longings of your heart or that heavy burden you have been carrying? Go to God and ask Him for help in those areas.

He hears you and He will answer you. It may look different than what you imagined, it maybe a peace that passes understanding in the middle of your storm or a promise for the future you’re so afraid of. But it is worth the tears you will shed before God.

“Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer. From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭61‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NIV‬‬