Cry Out In Prayer

Jesus gives us many good examples of prayer. He was able to see when he needed to pray, and that sometimes he needed to do so in lonely and solitary places:

"But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed." Luke 5:16 NIV

"Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed." Mark 1:35 NIV
When he was about to be arrested and crucified, he again withdrew from even his disciples, in sorrow and anguish, to pray:

Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me." Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will" Matthew 26:36-39 NIV

He then repeated this 2 more times, always ending with acknowledging the result ultimately would be the Father's will, not his own. So it is OK to ask for something that we may not receive, as long as the prayer is in faith and honesty, and without improper motives. His prayer also shows us that it is not wrong for us to be sorrowful and troubled - it is a normal part of life even for a Christian. And when we are in that state, we can come to God in prayer:

"LORD, you are the God who saves me; day and night I cry out to you. May my prayer come before you; turn your ear to my cry." Psalm 88:1-2 NIV

Even in our darkest hour we can come before God in prayer, acknowledge that He is the one who saves us and gives us eternal life in heaven. We can cry out to him and pour out our troubles to him, and ask that he listen to our requests for help and comfort. He will be there, listening, and will answer, even if the answer is "no", or "not yet", or "later". God always answers our prayers when they are prayed with a faithful heart and in the name of Jesus. An answered prayer does not always mean He answered yes. And He answers not because of anything we have done, but because of what Jesus did to save us through his death and resurrection.
Thank you, Lord, for always being there for me, for always listening, and for answering in the way that is best - according to your will. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Written by Jan Andersen