Crying Out to the Lord

by Os Hillman

"But when they cried out to the LORD,
he raised up for them a deliverer."  
(Judges 3:8-9).

I often receive requests to help
someone whose life is in a difficult
place. After a few questions I am able
to discern if the Lord has called
me to get involved. More often than not,
I am not to be involved.
Many times I find this person has not
experienced enough pain to want to do
anything about their situation.
Until they are really ready to cry out to
the Lord for a solution to their situation,
they will simply talk about desiring
change but never take the necessary steps
needed for change."

If you invest time into someone who has
not yet come to the place of wanting a
spiritual solution to their problem,
you will become emotionally exhausted.
The apostle Paul understood this principle
when he actually turned such people over to
Satan for the destruction of their flesh.
(I Cor. 5:5).

The people of Israel were finally in enough
pain to cry out to God for relief from their
oppression. Like so many times throughout the
scriptures, God answered by raising up a
deliverer.
"But when they cried out to the LORD,
he raised up for them a deliverer, Othniel son
of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother, who saved them.
The Spirit of the LORD came upon him, so that he
became Israel's judge and went to war.
The LORD gave Cushan-Rishathaim king of Aram
into the hands of Othniel, who overpowered
him. So the land had peace for forty years,
until Othniel son of Kenaz died (Judges 3:8-11)."

Are you in a difficult place in your life?
Are you only talking about changing or
are you really ready to cry out to the Lord
for a solution?
Start now the process of changing your
situation for the better and asking
for help if needed.