My Cry For Mercy

Psalm 28:6-7
Praise be to the LORD , for he has heard my cry for mercy. The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song.

When we are in a time of trouble or need, we often find ourselves crying out to God for mercy and help. We spend countless hours on our knees and even just in the midst of our daily tasks, fretting over the situation, and pleading with God to come to our aid. The Bible tells us to cast our anxieties on Him, and that is what we think we are doing. But is it?

I love this Psalm of David’s because it is the perfect example of how we should "plead our case" with God, in my view. David goes to God, and lays his heart bare, asking for mercy and help so that he would not "go down to the pit." He makes his plea, and lays out his request, and then, and I can hear him just shouting through tears, he begins to praise the Lord for hearing him. He praises God in the faith and knowledge that he is helped. Not that help is on the way, or that God simply heard him, but that God heard him, and is helping him. He praises God in the very same breath that he is asking for mercy and help. He then goes on to proclaim, "The LORD is the strength of his people, a fortress of salvation for his anointed one. Save your people and bless your inheritance; be their shepherd and carry them forever." (V. 8-9) He lauds God as the Shepherd, and as the strength of the people, as though he is reminding himself, and rehearsing the greatness of God.

Is this how we approach God? Maybe you do, but generally, I do not. I continue to go to Him time and time again, day after day, requesting the same thing. And now, I can just hear Him saying, "Yeah, I know, Andrea - it’s already been dealt with. You don’t need to go over this with me again, dearest." I’m thankful that He is very patient - I’m sure He uses every ounce when dealing with me. But now, when I go to Him with a need, asking for help, I will be sure to end my petition with praise and thanks that He has already sent help, and I need not ask again.