It's good to think more deeply about the mercies of God in times of crisis. To help guide us in this effort, we'll consider Paul David Tripp's collection of meditations from Psalm 27 called "A Shelter in the Time of Storm." You can get your own copy on Amazon here.

Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud;
be gracious to me and answer me!

Psalm 27:7

Tripp starts with a pretty impressive list of all the reasons why God shouldn't listen to our prayers. We're selfish and fickle; we lack righteousness and wisdom. We often only turn to God when we've made a mess because we didn't consider him in the first place. Tell me again why God would hear my prayer when I cry aloud?

Because of his grace, of course! That's David's plea, "...be gracious to me and answer me." It's because his throne is one of grace that any of us can approach it in prayer with our petitions. 

Tripp expands on this verse to list five reasons why we can be sure God will hear us in prayer: his love, his grace, his faithfulness, his kingdom, and his glory. When we're struggling to come to God in prayer, it might help us to think about these five things and consider if one (or more) of them speaks directly to the fear or insecurity that's holding back our prayers. 

Questions to Consider

The questions are Tripp's. I included my answers in case they're helpful to read.

1. How healthy is your life of prayer? What keeps you from praying as you should? What changes need to take place?

- Laziness and incorrect priorities are the most common causes of my inaction in prayer. I do believe it works, I do believe God hears me, and I do believe it's important - yet...

2. Look at the five reasons for being confident in prayer. Are there doubts about any of them in your heart.

- No. God does love his people (generally) and each of his people (specifically). His grace is sufficient reason for him to pay attention to my needs. His faithfulness means that he will not forget or neglect his promises to me. His kingdom is ever-expanding and through prayer he puts me to work in it (and works his purposes in me). And all of this is to his glory, which is the purpose for which I created and wherein I will find ultimate joy and satisfaction.