The answer to your suffering...

Psalms 22 is the famous Psalm of sorrow. It depicts the situation of one who has been afflicted with sickness, who faces persecution, who has lost everything. The Psalm portrays this suffering one as very humble and penitent, continually reaching out to God for deliverance despite external circumstances that would indicate God does not care.

This Psalms describes to a degree the sufferings of Jesus. Scholars however are divided as to whether this Psalm is literally talking about Jesus (especially since Jesus quoted from this Psalm when he was on the cross “my God my God why have you forsaken me”), or whether simply Jesus quoted this Psalm as a means of comfort, which would have been typical for a Jewish person to do.

The typical Jew growing up would have memorized this Psalm. It would have portrayed the prayers of any individual who was several traumatized or in deep suffering. The Psalm promised hope in times of desolation, peace in a state of crisis.
Verse 24 encapsulates the point of the Psalm. The psalmist declares
“For he has not despised or disdained the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help”

My friend, I have three questions for you. Are you suffering? Have you cried consistently to God? Did you receive the answer you need?

Are you suffering? Many are crying out to God but are not really suffering. They may think they are suffering, but their hearts are not right. True suffering is found in the spirit of 2 Chronicles 7:14, where one finds themselves humbled by a crisis, repents of their sins, fasts in humility and cries out to God for deliverance.

Some may be crying to God in true suffering, but their cry is short lived. Thus my second question serves to remind you not to give up in your cry.

Finally, have you received your answer? 1 John 5:14 explicitly indicates that if God listens to your prayer you will have your request. Our verse here indicates God will listen if you are truly suffering and consistently crying out to God out of a deep desperation.

As we continue to believe for Souls, take on true suffering. Feel the pains of those who are lost. Understand the anguish that comes with not knowing Christ. Then begin to cry out to God out of a burdened heart, and I believe God will answer your cry.