9-11-2026

Good Morning!

      Psalm 10:17 “O Lord, you hear the desire of the afflicted; you will strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear.”

       I am at the age and stage of life where I don’t always hear as well as I would like. When the precious preschoolers come out of church and give me a hug and then tell me a story, I have to lean in and listen intently to get the story. If I am in a gym where the acoustics are so-so and the PA is crackly; I just nod my head, clap when everyone else does, and try to be quiet and fit in. Hearing is important but acting upon what you hear matters even more.

    We often think God does not hear us. We want miracles, spectacular, earth-shaking miracles. We want to see the sea open up and let us walk on through or the storms quieted and when we do not get them, we question and doubt. “Does God even know I am alive, does He even care?” Sometimes it seems like the bad guys win and we only experience injustice.

    Our verse comes from a classic example of a lament prayer in the Book of Psalms. The first portion of the psalm lists a series of trouble or pain that is occurring. Then it turns in prayer to God, calling upon Him to bring about justice. The psalm ends with a statement of faith proclaiming, “God will do what He has promised.” The whole psalm is a prayer to God to deliver us from evil and then the psalm ends with “God will do this!” This is what faith looks like. It is placing our confidence in God’s great love to deliver us, as He has promised. This type of faith requires us to see with more than just our physical eyes; we need to see with our eyes of faith and know that God is in control and victory is ultimately going to be ours.

    So, God tells us to pray, to call upon Him, knowing He will incline His ear, that is bend down low and listen really close to hear us and then to act. God speaks to us in a way that is more ordinary and we often overlook it. God usually uses the ordinary to deliver on his promises to us. Rather than thunder and lightning, it is the just word and hug from a fellow believer, the shared prayer lifted up, the blessings of the sacrament that gives us God’s very presence in our hands. It may all sound ordinary but anything ordinary, when connected to God’s Word, becomes extraordinary and will give us hope.

    So, if you are in the midst of things that you cannot understand. If the pain of loss or hopelessness is too much; pray, pray without ceasing and don’t be afraid to tell the truth. We do not need to sugar coat our experiences and feelings. God already knows where your heart is and He calls us to speak, so He will hear, so that He will heal. Look to God and trust His promise to comfort, restore, heal, and give you rest.

Father of all mercies, hear us for we are a wounded and broken people. Send us your Spirit to comfort and console us. Use us when our brothers and sisters are hurting and in need of your mercy. Let us be your hands and your voice to bring healing and comfort to the world. Defend us we pray, in the precious Name of Jesus, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret