Out of the depths I cry to you, oh Lord (Psalm 130).

I try not to be a complainer. My preference is to simmer on the inside, while smiling on the outside. However there are times when things don’t go my way and I get frustrated and complain. No, more accurately, I yell.

Last week as I prepared for confirmation, I had three you-tube videos I wanted to show the students. I tested my laptop and projector in our class room the afternoon prior to the class. The set-up needed some minor adjustments but I thought I had all the tech “gremlins” worked out so that I could easily show the video clips that evening. I was psyched to teach.

I came back early to reset the laptop and projector for the actual class and two tech gremlins attacked my system. First my laptop kept “freezing” during the video and the projector refused to power up. Neither of these happened during the afternoon test run. The students were restless, ready to start, and my whole lesson plan had gone out the window. I could feel the frustration and anger rising up within me and I confess it came out sideways. I “yelled” at the students to be quiet. It actually was my “crying out to the Lord,” since I thought he had abandoned me. After the outburst I attempted to teach my first lesson on the Apostle’s Creed from scratch.

Yet as I stumbled along, God heard my cry. Or at least two of God’s servants did. Two adults who are tech savvy, started working on the laptop and projector. Within ten minutes they had the projector and laptop working and the video clips cued. Our confirmation class could continue.  (And later I apologized to the students for my outburst.)

Not every cry of the heart is heard so quickly. Some cries come from much deeper within us.  In hospital rooms,  I have joined others in crying out to the Lord, asking for healing from Almighty God.  After worship, I have cried out to the Lord with members who need real guidance and strength.  After a counseling appointment, we cry to the Lord for mercy and grace.  At times our cries seem to be lost in the heavens. Yet like the Psalmist, we continue to cry out. God does not promise how or when he will answer our prayers. He simply commands us to pray. Or to cry out!

We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies (Roman 8:22-23).

How do you cry out to the Lord?

Lord Jesus, hear my cry and rescue me.