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He Hears Our Cry

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 16, 1909

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 86, No. 50.

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He Hears Our Cry

By P. G. Stanley

P. G. STANLEY
The Lord says, “I have seen the affliction of my people which is in Egypt, and have heard their groanings, and am come down to deliver them.” Acts 7:34. God always hears the voice of those that cry unto him in their need. That cry may not be formulated in words. It may be simply “the soul’s sincere desire,” “the burden of a sigh,” the “falling of a tear,” the “upward glancing of the eye,” that God sees. The cry may come from the heart of the learned or the untutored, the respectable or the outcast, the monopolist or the oppressed, the rich or the poor. If that cry comes from the heart, God hears and answers.
He heard the cry of Elijah when, with breaking heart, he wept over the apostasy of Israel. He heard him and answered his earnest prayer with awful judgment, by shutting up the heavens that they should not give rain for three years and six months. He heard him and answered in mercy when punishment had accomplished its object, by sending copious showers upon the parched and suffering earth.
He heard the praying church at Jerusalem when they pleaded for the deliverance of the imprisoned Peter; and just before Herod was to slay him, the Lord sent his angel to arouse his beloved servant, slumbering peacefully between Roman soldiers, and to loose his chains and lead him forth to liberty and finally to the church assembly, where many were gathered together praying.
He heard the prayers and praises of Paul and Silas in the inner prison at Philippi, and mightily shook the earth, till every prison door was opened, and every prisoner’s shackles were loosed.
He hears the young ravens when they cry. He hears us.
May we open our eyes to see his rich supplies for all our needs, as he opened the eyes of Hagar to behold the living well from which she drew to quench the raging thirst and cool the fevered brow of her boy. May he open our eyes to see angelic cohorts delivering and defending us, as he opened the eyes of Elisha’s servant to gaze in wonder on the heaven-sent horses and chariots of fire filling the mountain round about.
May he open our eyes to see the finished work of Jesus Christ, “who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.”
Let us believe that he hears the longing, yearning hearts, whether it be for the salvation of self, husband, wife, children, friends; for deliverance from temptation, sin, trouble; for temporal support; or for any of the many and varied needs that we find our weak humanity has inherited.
“This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.” Let us believe he hears us, and with the key of faith unlock the storehouse of our infinite Father, and bring down upon our heads his rich and choicest blessings.