An Empty Cry

There they cry out, but he does not answer, because of the pride of evil men. Surely God does not hear an empty cry, nor does the Almighty regard it.
Job 35:12–13
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An Empty Cry
We live in a world which is crying out for deliverance. Deliverance from pain, from depression, from sickness and poverty.  The collective voice of the world, it would seem, should be enough to bring about change, to alieve the suffering and want.  Yet we still live in a world which is falling apart.  Why?  The truth is that God hears the prayers of the faithful but the prayers of the wicked He does not contend with (Proverbs 15:29). Look to Elisha and the prophets of Baal if you need convincing.  450 wicked and pagan priest spent hours crying out to their god for vindication and nothing came of it. It fell upon deaf ears. But the prayers of one faithful man were answered as God sent fire to consume the altar (1 Kings 18:20-40). Therefore, we take comfort in our prayers because we know God hears them and will answer them.  The prayers of the faithful are always heard and answered.  Our cries do not go out into nothingness, but flow to our loving God. He does not neglect His people. He even knows what we need before we even ask for it (Matthew 6:8). This is why in the cross we can see God’s answer to the prayers we pray. For in the cross we have what we need, forgiveness, life, and salvation.  Our cries were heard and were not empty, in His Word and Sacraments we have His answer. For God regards the cry of the faithful and delivers the cure for the soul through the balm of His Gospel.