When the Egyptians maltreated and oppressed us,
imposing hard labor upon us,
we cried to the Lord, the God of our fathers,
and he heard our cry
and saw our affliction, our toil, and our oppression.
He brought us out of Egypt
with his strong hand and outstretched arm,
with terrifying power, with signs and wonders. (Dt 26:6-8)
It seems like there is a certain part of our human DNA that makes us prone to want to do things on our own. Somehow, we feel that we will be considered weak if we ask for help. That could not be farther from the truth, however. Sometimes it takes great strength to admit to a weakness and to ask for help.
God’s people, in the time of Moses, would have been considered very weak. They had been captured by the enemy and lived in captivity for many generations. Yet their strength was in their faith. They prayed continuously for deliverance. The more oppressed they were, the louder their prayers went up to God. Even in the midst of seemingly impossible odds, they believed that God could deliver them from their enemy if He chose to do so.
And chose, He did.
God’s people found themselves delivered from the hands of their enemy. They were led through the deserts until they came to a promised land, a land “flowing with milk and honey.”
We are at the beginning of our Lenten journey. As we have made resolutions for ourselves — perhaps to give up some favorite items or to add some good work(s) to our daily schedule — we might be feeling the weight of that spiritual burden. It is important to remember that God will not abandon us. He will always be with us.
If you need help with your Lenten resolve, make sure that you turn to the Lord and ask for His assistance. Know that He will give it to you. If you need help in your daily life, you know that you can turn to God. So turn to Him. He is always willing and able to come to your assistance.
The Lord hears the cry of His people. Blessed be the Lord!
FAITH ACTION: Do not be afraid to pour out your troubles to the Lord. He does hear the cry of His people.