The Father’s Answer

“From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears. The earth trembled and quaked, and the foundations of the mountains shook…He parted the heavens and came down…He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters.”

Psalm 18:6-7, 9, 16

Pain stirs the heart of a father like nothing else. My friend Jim knows all about this. He often has to leave his three little boys when he flies away on business. On a recent trip, as the family drove together to the airport, the seven-year-old gladly took last-minute instructions on how to help Mommy while Daddy was away. The five-year-old bravely tucked in his chin and promised he would do his chores. As they turned into the airport, the two-year-old, all smiles and jabber up until then, spotted an airplane on the runway. Suddenly, wailing and sobbing!

“It tore my heart out!” Jim exclaimed. “I almost canceled the trip right then. I just kept hugging that little boy.” As I saw Jim’s eyes well up with tears, I thought, If that boy’s cries tug at Jim’s heart, how much more must our tears move our heavenly Father. Nothing grips God’s heart like the tortured cry of one of his children.

Watch what takes place in Psalm 18 after David says, “I cried to my God for help.” God is roused. The earth trembles, mountains shake, heavens are parted, and he reaches down. Our questions and cries powerfully move the Almighty. He parts heaven and shakes earth to respond. He reaches down. He takes hold. Jesus is God’s embrace, his way of reaching down and taking hold.

Can God the Father turn a deaf ear to the plea of his Son on the cross? (If Jim can’t, you bet God can’t.) The answer resounds from an empty tomb three days later: the earth trembled, the mountains shook, and God rescued his Son. And because the Father raised Jesus, there is hope for us all. Jesus felt God’s slap so we could feel God’s caress. God is our Father. He hears our cry!

Oh, thank you, Lord, for hearing my cry. Bless you for coming to my rescue.