June 1, 2023

Psalm 50, 15

Call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me.

Dear Readers,

when I was a child, my parents did not have a telephone. Later on, we got a telephone line, but we had to share it with the neighbors (this reminds me of the American movie comedy "Pillow talk" with Doris Day and Rock Hudson). Our telephone set had a dial as it is shown on the Romanian stamp above. 

Today we use smart phones and our grandchildren think it has always been that way. How times have changed!  But what has remained to this day is the symbol on the screen for making a phone call. Even on the WhatsApp button, I can find this symbol with the earpiece and the mouthpiece for making a phone call. 

On the German special stamp from 2001, there is a telephone receiver with a special telephone number. From the earpiece comes the free helpline "Nummer gegen Kummer" (translated: number against sorrow), meant to be a helpline for children and young people. Anyone who has problems and is looking for help can call anonymously. Children and young people can get advice and help there. Meanwhile there is also a worry telephone for parents under the call number 0800 - 111 0 550. 

For a very long time, there has been a kind of “worry phone” which our God has introduced. It simply says: Prayer! In Psalm 50, God asks, "Call on me in trouble. I will help you." God is a patient listener and He is very competent. We can talk to Him about anything and we get help. True of course, God's help doesn't always come the way we ask for it or expect it. And sometimes it comes a little later than we would like it. But it always comes on time. Countless people have had this valuable experience.

The Lord Jesus Christ also asked his listeners to come to him with their burdens (Gospel of Matthew 11:28): “Come to me, all you who are tired and are carrying heavy loads. I will give you rest.” That is his offer for us. Yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

The Lord Jesus Christ is like a hotline to God. He is my "worry phone." His ear is always open to me, around the clock. Calling on him in prayer doesn´t cost anything, except to trust him. Of course, I must be willing to do just that. But that is the same with the earthly worry telephones. I entrust myself to a “phone partner” whom I do not know, but from whom I hope to receive advice and help.

Of course, there is one thing that does not exist with God: anonymity. Because God knows me. He knows who I am, and he can see into my heart. He desires that I talk to Him as I would to a father, or as I would to a good friend. Even if I have no problems, he has an open ear for me. 

If you don't know what to pray for, why don´t you just surf through the Psalms. The Psalms are a treasure trove for prayers.

Thank you for listening to me. And as always, I love to invite you to our next devotion with stamps on June 15. The theme then will be Psalm 23. And until then, may our good God bless you and protect you in spirit, soul, and body.