A wake up call is one of the “must-do’s” when I stay in any hotel during my travels. So, in my recent trip last week, right before I laid my head on the pillow, I grabbed the phone to dial “0” for the front desk.
I pressed it and pressed it again. But there was no dial tone. The other keys were dead too. Hmmm…so I tried all other buttons hoping to get a dial tone.
Bad move because to my chagrin, I pressed one that responded, “9-1-1, what’s your emergency?”
Yikes! I was too embarrassed to explain I was blind and had pressed the wrong key.
“I’m sorry,” I said. “Please disregard.”
Minutes later, there was a knock at the door. “Hotel staff, there was a 9-1-1 call from this room. Is everything alright?”
My cheeks grew hot. “Oh, yes everything is fine,” I said. “It was a mistake.”
After I chastised myself for pressing all those buttons, I realized I’ve done the very same thing before. When in the hotel room of despair, after losing my sight completely, I pressed the button of desperation. I pressed the button for answers from doctors, from my own ability. I tried to activate comfort and solutions on my own.
All lead me nowhere. But when I pressed the button in my heart to call upon Jesus, He answered. He knocked at my door offering the help I needed–the comfort of hope. The light in my darkness. The reassurance for my future. And when I hated my life, He offered the love to conquer it all.
Have you been there? Something happened to you, to your life, to your health or relationship? And you’re pressing buttons in a desperate effort for answers…but none come.
Good news is that we’re not alone. David must have been in the hotel room of desperation too because He relates three truths for us to embrace:
We can count on God’s response. Rely on His attentive nature. And with confidence in our soul, we know He hears each sob and sees every tear. “I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry.” (Psalm 40:1)
He watches our desperate situation. He observes our struggles. And when we call upon Him, He comes to the rescue: “He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire…” (Psalm 40:2a)
When our world is shaky, God knows where to transport us. He prepares the perfect place of freedom from our emotions and safety for our soul: “He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.” (Psalm 40:2b )
God did that for David and He’ll do the same for us today. When the pain sears. When the loneliness won’t let go. When the sadness darkens our nights. And when worry nags inside–that’s when we can press 9-1-1 in our heart. His answer is timely and His response powerfully loving.
Facing tough circumstances lately? Whom are you calling for help?
Janet Eckles
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