One of the benefits of prayer is that first we can air out whatever we are going through that day, and we know that at the other end there is someone who is listening to us. Where as if we meditate we are just releasing stress and thoughts, with no one on the other side that can provide solutions. When we pray we release our frustrations and concerns, but not just into the air to him that is able to hear us and deliver us. David said that the righteous cry unto the Lord and he delivers them (ps34:17). God takes pleasure in hearing the prayer of his people (ps66:18-20). Now, God especially hears our prayers when we can come in a way that makes him comfortable; in a humbling way (2Chr7:14). Now, you might say why should we pray if God knows our every thoughts, well, the very act of prayer tells God that we him and that we are lost without him. But, why don’t we pray? Why do people keep silence even during their toughest moments in life? Could it be that the feeling of despair set a tone of defeat like no other time and many of us cannot seem to shake it off?
Jeremiah 33:1-3
While Jeremiah was still confined in the courtyard of the guard, the word of the Lord came to him a second time: 2 “This is what the Lord says, he who made the earth, the Lord who formed it and established it—the Lord is his name: 3 ‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’
Being in jail is probably one of the worst feelings anyone can experience and it is probable one of the saddest moment in anyone’s life. Jeremiah was in prison for declaring the word of the word of the Lord and God had not heard from him for a while. Jeremiah was one of those person who on a continual bases spoke with God, so it was strange why he had not spoken to him for a while, so God spoke to him the second time. The question that comes to mind is why had he not spoken to God. Jeremiah had looked out the prison window and noticed that the people; his people, who were supposed to be free were being tormented and put into slavery. So, he was noticing that the things that were supposed to bring him hope was gone, and so this feeling of despair deepened into his heart. Jeremiah had that same feeling Elijah had when he was in the mountain and felt like he was the only one left that served God(1K19:10). God had some promises for restoration and peace for God’s people that were going to lift up that feeling of despair of Jeremiah (Jer33:10-11).
One thing about despair is that it pops up unexpectedly and uninvited. It is said that trouble; which is what sets in motion despair, it can spark at anytime and in a fly (Job5:6-11). Jobs friend understood that while trouble sets up a flair of despair at any given moment without anyone’s permission, prayer is that fire hose that turns it off.