“The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.” Psalm 9:9-10
Never? Like never EVER ever? Lord…is that true? Because if it is true it changes everything.
Sometimes I am tempted to wonder if God really hears me, if He really answers my prayers. This is especially true on bad days, weeks, or years. “Lord where are you!? I need you right now and I cannot find you!” This is one of the infinite reasons I am so thankful for His words and His truth. There are so many concrete answers, absolutes, and promises that He gives us in His word. Promises that I can cling to, rely on, and hope in.
This I know, if God said Never…He means it. That means every single prayer my mother prayed on her knees, by my bedside when I was a teenager He heard them and did not forsake her. He didn’t answer them overnight. There were many days and months I tormented my parents as a teen. I let my insecurities rule and my decisions paid the price. But God did not forsake those prayers. He did not forget her tears and though the pain was not alleviated in the blink of an eye, He redeemed me and I wholeheartedly believe it was because of the prayers of my mother.
Today I pray, I cry over my daughter. “Lord please! Save her from even knowing what an insecurity is! May her confidence and security be in You and who YOU made her to be, nothing short of a miracle. Father it seems like I am praying for the impossible but I don’t want my daughter to see herself the way I did growing up. Please Lord, please save her from that.” He will not forsake that prayer. He will never. And when God says never he means it.
I cry the same prayers for you, for myself, and for the people closest to us that we love. Oppression, trouble, pain come in so many different forms and hope is so hard to find. Fear not and pray hard, for He will never forsake you when you seek Him.