Pray in time of need

But the LORD sent a strong wind on the sea, and the storm was so violent that the ship was in danger of breaking up.  The sailors were terrified and cried out for help, each one to his own god. Then, in order to lessen the danger, they threw the cargo overboard. Meanwhile, Jonah had gone below and was lying in the ship's hold, sound asleep. The captain found him there and said to him, "What are you doing asleep? Get up and pray to your god for help. Maybe he will feel sorry for us and spare our lives." (Jonah 1:4-6)

The cry for help can be the most distressing cry that you can hear. It was heard by those on the roof tops at Grantham, escaping the torrent of water, when they saw houses “sailing” down the river with their owners trapped inside. It was heard by those people scrambling around the ruins of city buildings after the earth quake in Christchurch trying to free those trapped under the debris.

People continue to cry out for help because of the circumstances that they find themselves in. Sadly, for many, their cries seem to go unheeded.

Jonah disobeyed God and tried to escape by ship. His disobedience brought disaster to the ship and all its occupants. A storm came up and threatened to destroy the ship. The sailors cried out and off loaded the cargo. The captain found Jonah, sound asleep, and woke him to add his cries to the sailor’s cries.

Jonah was found to be the cause and he was tossed overboard at his request. The Lord heard the sailor’s cries and the storm was stilled. The Lord also provided a large fish to save Jonah.

The cries of people are heard by God. They are prayers to Him. He hears our cries and answers them. But the answers may not be what we expected. The solution may come in a different way.

When you face a tight spot, pray and keep on praying. Don’t give up because the answer to your prayer may come in an unexpected way and you need to be ready to receive it and act upon it.

There is a mystery to God’s answers to our praying. We should learn from those who have been in desperate situations and have cried out and they have been saved in some way.