Cry Out to God!

In Isaiah 38: 1-3 in the Message, we read: "At that time, Hezekiah got sick. He was about to die. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz visited him and said, "God says, 'Prepare your affairs and your family. This is it: You're going to die. You're not going to get well.'"  Hezekiah turned away from Isaiah and, facing the wall, prayed to God: "God, please, I beg you: Remember how I've lived my life. I've lived faithfully in your presence, lived out of a heart that was totally yours. You've seen how I've lived, the good that I have done." And Hezekiah wept as he prayed—painful tears."

This is one of those passages that I have preached from countless times, and have approached the topic from various vantage points. There is much in this story to help us. But today, I'm thinking of it and I am encouraged as I think about it this way...  In this passage we see a preacher, a man of God who goes to the King and tells him that he was going to die.  That in itself is something... that a preacher would be bold enough to approach the King with such a word.  But the part that really encourages me is this... The King chose to not accept that report, and to turn to God and cry out! Oh, that our leaders... our President, would cry out to God! If it could happen in this Bible passage, it could happen now, in our time... with our President, with our Congress men and women and with our Senators. Lord, revive thy works in our time!

But this passage is not just for kings and Presidents and national leaders, it's for us... the everyday folks... you and me. Take a page from this story and no matter who tells you ANYTHING... remember, God has the final say so! When Hezekiah cried out to God, those painful tears and the bitter weeping moved God and and God changed his mind and told Isaiah to "tell Hezekiah he will live."  Remember, it's not over until God says it's over, and your prayers and tears are powerful. God is not immune to your tears and He is not blind to your hurt and pain. God cares about you and he considers our hearts cry.  We read in Psalm 56:8  that He keeps our tears in bottles. I don't know exactly how it works, but I kind of picture a room full of jars, vases and bottels--a collection of our tears that the Father has collected, and He knows when each tear fell and why. 

Got some issues... some problems... need God to move? I double dog dare you to go ahead and give it a try... cry out to God!  If you've been given a bad bad report... from a doctor, a lawyer, an employer... cry out to God!  When the situation gets to much for you to bear and you feel you can't take any more... cry out to God! When you are filled with dispair, anger, bitterness, hopelessness, hurt, pain... cry out to God!  
Go on and tell Him how you feel, and He will listen and move on your behalf. It may not be today... and it may not be on your time schedule, but He will listen and move on your behalf.


God something that seems impossible? God will do the impossible for you. For Hezekiah, God moved and removed the death announcement and added 15 years to his life.  For Moses, he parted the Red Sea. For David, He helped him bring down the giant. We could go on and on... but our God specializes in things thought impossible! 


Read it again... Hezekiah's prayer and painful cry resulted in the impossible being done. That is powerful... but my Bible tells me that God is not a respecter of persons... what he does for one, he will do for all who call on His name and believe!
Go on and cry out to God!