Pray Before the Crisis

When Jesus walked the earth, he made himself accessible to the general population. He taught in synagogues, on hillsides and on boats, healing the sick and performing miracles. He lifted his voice at the feasts, crying, “I am the living water! Come to me and I will satisfy your thirsty soul.” Anyone could draw near to him and be satisfied. But our Lord’s invitation was mostly ignored.

Jesus cried over the people, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!” (Matthew 23:37). He was saying to Israel, “I’m here now, available to you. I have told you to come to me for healing and to have your needs met, but you would not come.”

Jesus responded to the people’s rejection of him by declaring, “See! Your house is left to you desolate” (23:38). The word Jesus uses for desolate here signifies loneliness, unfruitfulness, waste. He is saying, “Your church life, your household, your spiritual walk are all going to dry up and die.”

Our heavenly Father cares deeply about all his children’s troubles. Whenever we face hard times, he urges us to draw near, saying, “Come, pour out all your troubles, needs and complaints to me and I will hear your cry and answer.” He longs for us to thirst after him, just as the psalmist said: “As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God” (Psalm 42:1-2).

Don’t wait until a crisis arises to approach God. He longs for you to pour out your heart to him in love and adoration on a continual basis.