A prayer of one overwhelmed with trouble, pouring out problems before the LORD. LORD, hear my prayer! Listen to my plea! 2 Don’t turn away from me in my time of distress. Bend down to listen, and answer me quickly when I call to you. 3 For my days disappear like smoke, and my bones burn like red-hot coals. 4 My heart is sick, withered like grass, and I have lost my appetite.

17 He will listen to the prayers of the destitute. He will not reject their pleas. 18 Let this be recorded for future generations, so that a people not yet born will praise the LORD. [Psalm 102:1-4, 17-18 New Living Translation]

Have you ever been in this terrible place where it seemed that no matter how hard you prayed, God still didn’t answer your prayer? Maybe you cried out with all your heart and even fasted as you prayed but no answer came. Heaven seemed sealed shut to you, although you saw a quick resolution to other people’s prayers. You wanted to yell, “God, that’s not fair!” We don’t understand why our loving heavenly Father lingers over some prayers. According to Bible principles, God ought to answer them quickly because His will demands their answer. We’re at a loss and can’t explain it but we certainly feel like verses 1-4 of Psalm 102.

Then the good news of verse 17 comes into view! God won’t reject us. He will hear our prayers. Our Father remains faithful to His Word no matter what happens on earth. And thousands of years ago that Word got recorded so that we can see God’s faithfulness to past generations and know that forever He remains unchangeable*. Therefore, when we cry out, He will answer in His time and His way to meet our needs**. Let these verses encourage you whenever you feel like the psalmist did in verses 1-4. That happens to most of us from time to time but we must not stay there. We must read the rest of the story and include verses 17-18 as a part of our story too.

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* Hebrews 13:8 – Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.

** Deuteronomy 31:6 NIV – “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

You might also check out The Edge of the Pit, listed under Poems.