The LORD replies, “I have seen violence done to the helpless,  and I have heard the groans of the poor.  Now I will rise up to rescue them, as they have longed for me to do.”

Psalm 12:5

Yesterday we focused on Romans 8:23, where it says that we join creation in groaning. Though life can be filled with many blessings, there are times when we suffer and when we cry out to God with groaning. We just can’t find the words to tell the Lord what’s on our hearts.

In the providence of God, today we turn our attention to Psalm 12. In this psalm, David cries out to God because he sees injustice in the world. The Lord answers him by saying, “I have seen violence done to the helpless, and I have heard the groans of the poor. Now I will rise up to rescue them. . . .” How good it is to know that God hears when his people groan! When we suffer, God does not turn away from us. Rather, he is with us in our suffering. In his time, he will rescue.

Of course, we often stumble over the “in his time” part of the equation. When we hurt, we want God to deliver us right away. Waiting can be terribly difficult. But we can take comfort in the fact that God is with us. He hears our groans. He has sent his Spirit to comfort us and to help us wait upon him with faith.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: When you hurt, what difference does the idea that God is with you make? How do you make sense of God’s inaction when his people are suffering?

PRAYER: Dear Lord, thank you for the good news that you hear the groans of the poor. Whether our poverty is material, emotional, relational, or spiritual, you hear us when we suffer. You are with us in good times and bad times. Thank you for being Emmanuel, God with us.

Lord, I must confess that sometimes I struggle with your inaction. When people are suffering or when I’m hurting, it’s hard to make sense of the fact that you are aware and yet do nothing . . . or at least seem to do nothing. Help me to trust you even when I don’t understand you.

Today I pray specifically for the poor of this world who are groaning. Hear them, Lord, and reach out to them. Mobilize your people to rescue the poor in your name. Amen.