The God of Compassion Hears Your Voice: An Invitation to Call Out
Our God is a God of compassion—and what a comfort that can be to us in our daily going-abouts.
We live our days in the high-and-low moments, and often forget the Mighty compassion and help that awaits us right on the other side of a breath-long prayer.
Hearing the cries of his people and offering saving help is who God is.
Psalm 107 is an entire chapter of people who find themselves in heaps of trouble.* Some of the trouble they come upon includes difficult circumstances that are outside of their control. While others are in prison because of their own sin and rebellion, or are crying out because of the mess they got themselves into.
While the circumstances change, God’s love remains the same: he helps them. Check out this verse below. This concept is repeated over-and-over again in Psalm 107:
Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. Psalm 107:6
I love the way this attribute of God plays out in the person of Jesus, who is a tangible image of our invisible God. (Colossians 1:15) Check out this short story—just five verses long—about Jesus healing two blind men…
As Jesus and his disciples were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed him. Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”
The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”
Jesus stopped and called them. “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked.
“Lord,” they answered, “we want our sight.”
Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him. Matthew 20:29-34
I love that line: “Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes.” Can you imagine if it read something like, “Jesus let out an annoyed sigh and begrudgingly healed them. Then he avoided them from that point on.”
I hope that concept gives you a little chuckle—because it’s so far from the Jesus we see described in the Bible—and who we have the privilege of knowing personally.
Jesus is rich with compassion.
The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. Psalm 145:8
Maybe your life experience has taught you that asking for help only brings pain. Maybe you only ask for help when you’re totally desparate. Maybe you avoid asking for help at all costs.
Maybe the times you’ve asked for help have been met with disdain, annoyance, or hesitation. If that’s the case, I’m so very sorry for that… and I want you to know that’s not the response you’ll get from God.
He longs to help you. You could say it’s his “love language”. ;)
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8
You don’t send your very own child to die a sacrificial death on behalf of all of humanity… if you don’t want to offer them salvation! We have done nothing to deserve Jesus. On the contrary, the many ways we do wrong have earned us a big ‘ol heap of death, rejection, and condemnation. And yet, God instead chose to lay out the gift of salvation for us, in Jesus. (John 3:16-17)
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23
All of that is to say, I hope you turn to him today. I hope you experience his restoration. I hope you get to know his love, and that his love transforms your life.
I hope you wake up in the morning and bring your requests before him. His love will be waiting there, ready to hear you. He listens with compassion.
I have this verse from Psalm 5:3 posted up at my desk currently… it actually sparked this entire writing! Read below:
In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly. Psalm 5:3
It’s the most beautiful reminder. Now, one last verse before we hit the road. The imagery is one of a loving Father, keen on hearing his beloved child. May it invite you to turn to God in prayer; he loves you!
Because he bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath! Psalm 116:2 NLT
Anyways, that’s all for today. I’d love to add, that if you have any questions about how to embrace the gift of salvation offered in Jesus, or how to live your life with him and experience true love, contact me here. It would be my greatest joy to talk through that with you.
Annalisa
*If you want to study this Psalm further, grab Summer in the Psalms: A 7-Week Bible Study. This is one of the featured Psalms you will have the opportunity to take a deep dive into. Available May 1-May 7, 2023!
