“Maaaaaaaaaamaaaaaaaaaaa”
Elias’ wailing cry, which was accompanied by sobbing and loud tears, woke me from my restless sleep. For the 4th time that night. I sighed a deep sigh, dragged my body out of bed, and stumbled across the hallway to the boys’ room. As I held my teething toddler, sang to him, rocked him, and shushed him, I was often tempted to throw a tired pity party for myself, driven by an attitude of entitlement (don’t we all have the inalienable right to uninterrupted sleep?!?).
The next morning, as we worshiped with our congregation here in Roach, the lyrics to one of my favorite songs popped up on the screen:
“Lord, I need You, oh, I need You
Every hour I need You
My one defense, my righteousness
Oh God, how I need You”
As I closed my eyes and sang those beautiful words (with Judah loudly singing along next to me), I was reminded of my crying child the night before. He was yelling for me. Literally clinging to me. Desperate to be in my arms. Not wanting me to leave. Needy.
The Bible commends the simple faith of children. We are to learn from them. So this morning at church, I allowed my almost-2-year-old son to challenge me in a deep spiritual truth: Am I as needy for the Lord as Elias was for me? Every day, every hour, every minute? Do I cry out to him not just in time of need and despair but every day as we live this life? Do I cling to him and rest only when I have arrived in His arms?
As the days grow darker and we hear of suffering and evil each day, may we all grow in our neediness for our Almighty Father and learn to lean on Him alone:
“Teach my song to rise to You
When temptation comes my way
And when I cannot stand I’ll fall on You
Jesus, You’re my hope and stay”
(Click to listen to Matt Maher’s song “Lord, I Need You”)
So true. This weekend at church we had a guest speaker and conference. He spoke on Revelation 2-3. How do we get zealous for the Lord? Desperation and surrender. You explained that perfectly! love you!