God Doesn’t Put Us On Hold

“Put on hold again”, I muttered. I tried pushing 000…nothing but music. In our day of instant information and communication it is so aggravating to have to wait on the phone for some strange live person to answer on the other end. Worse yet, when my call is answered by a robotic voice telling me to push more numbers to get to a certain department, to finally get a living person, to hopefully answer my question.

Being put on hold makes me feel frustrated and somewhat insignificant. I just want good old fashioned customer service from a real person. I have never put a person on hold to pick up a “call waiting”.  I don’t want someone to think that they aren’t important to me.  When I call someone to talk with them, I want a direct connection. Do you know that God will never put you “on hold”?  The scripture tells us that He is available 24/7.

My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. ³ He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. ⁴ Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.                  Psalms 121:2-4 (ESV)

God wants us to draw near to Him because HE is fully accessible. And He gets “it” whatever that may look like in your life.  Nothing surprises God. He has seen and heard it all throughout the ages and already knows our situation.  We can come before Him with broken hearts and wounds too deep for words and He understands. There is no perfect time or place. Instead, He tells us to come as we are, wherever we are.

 ¹⁵ For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. ¹⁶  Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.          Heb 4:14-16 (ESV)

 ²⁶ Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.       Romans 8:26 (ESV)

There was a small boy who was terrified of thunderstorms at night. Whenever the lightning and thunder would begin, he would invariably end up at his parents bedside, saying “I’m scared”  One night his father told him, “You don’t need to be afraid of the storm, Jesus is there with you”.  “I know he is,” the boy replied, but I need a Jesus with skin on”.

When I’m on hold  with a computer voice, I’ll often say “representative please”.  When I’m going through a rough time, even though I know God is listening and that He does love me…. sometimes I need “Jesus with skin on”.  I need a fellow believer to listen, remind me of God’s word and pray with me.

… God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort.⁴ He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.          2 Cor 1:3-4 (NLT)

It is so comforting to know Our Father hears us when we pray. But then we need to trust Him because He may answer YES,  NO  or WAIT.….   The following lyrics are from a  “Madea” movie. The story with its crazy twists focuses on God’s power to change lives, betrayal, revenge, mercy, hope and forgiveness.

 Father Can You Hear Me  ( from Diary of a Mad Black Woman by Tyler Perry)

Father can you hear me
We need your love today
I know that you are listening
You hear me everyday
Father please hear us
And we will be ok
Father we need you
You heal families everyday

Father can you hear me
I’m calling on your name
Not Buddha nor Muhammad
But it’s Jesus we cry out loud
Father just forgive us
Hear us when we say
We’ll give ya, give ya, give you everything our lives and souls today

Father you know we need it
I’ve never seen so much pain
We have the faith for now
Your victory we will gain
Father you know we mean it
There’s no more heart of stone
We’re ready for your power
Now the sin is gone

Lead: Father
Choir: Can you hear me now
(Repeat 4x)