"Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,

and he brought them out from their distress;"

God has a wonderful purpose for bringing trouble in our lives. He says, “Then they cry out to the Lord.” Yes, this is good, because it saves us from disaster and destruction.

God gives us a heart to hear him in trouble. Without soul distress and conviction, we’d go our own way. Psalms 119:67, "Before I was afflicted I went astray; but now I have kept your word." He loves us enough to CORRECT our sin. He says, “This is not the way,” and, “This will not profit you.” Psalms 107:25-27, "For he commanded and raised the stormy wind, which lifted up the waves of the sea. They mounted up to heaven, they went down to the depths; their courage melted away in their calamity; they reeled and staggered like drunkards, and were at their wits’ end." Then, we come back to him in tears and grief.

We call on the Lord, because we have no choice. He takes away excuses and every Plan B, and he delivers us from the gates of death.

Bless God that you have the inheritance - that you feel when you do wrong, and repent.

First, “Then they cry out.” It wasn’t until we were at our wits end. As long as we’re at ease in Zion, we transgress. Amos 6:6-7 — "They drink wine by the bowlful and anoint themselves with the finest oils but do not grieve over the ruin of Joseph. Therefore, they will now go into exile as the first of the captives, and the feasting of those who sprawl out will come to an end."

Pain is our teacher because of the Fall. Adam, and our sin in him, brought trouble. Romans 5:12, "Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned—" Now, we feel deep conviction when we falter. 2 Corinthians 7:9, "Now I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because your grief led to repentance; for you felt a godly grief, so that you were not harmed in any way by us." Things that didn’t convict us suddenly become important, as God condescends to use us. He wants our service to escalate, and he wants to capture our hearts. So, he shakes us from the tree of ease with a mighty wind, until we say, “Lord, save me.”

Whatever brings us to Christ is for our good, whether it be sickness, losses, or crosses. Whatever makes us cry out, and keeps us close to him, has been sent by God, and must be used properly. Do not be ashamed here, but learn the compassion that sets in, when we realize that we are nothing, we must obey, and it is grace that helps us.

Secondly, “they cry out to the Lord.” They want deliverance. This isn’t merely, “It hurts, but I’ll continue in my own way.” This is, “Lord, give me repentance. Make me obey. I surrender all.” This is the gift of God’s grace - a sorrow that leads to repentance, rather than worldliness or despair. 2 Corinthians 7:10, "For the sorrow that is according to the will of God [God given] produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death [it never comes to Christ]."

Sorrow that brings us to Christ is a God-given goodness that produces fruit. We give up the illicit thing, and no longer live for ourselves, abandoning ourselves to the Kingdom, and then there is peace. The peaceable fruit comes after sin is forsaken by crying out.

Thirdly, “he brings them out of their distresses,” delivering us from guilt and shame. He gives us power over sin, and makes us forsake all. Now, walking in God’s peace, we have peace. Hebrews 12:11, "Now, discipline always seems painful rather than pleasant at the time, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it." Now, in obedience, we see the joy of his calling - that he wasn’t a joy stealer but a joy giver. He made us give up what he despised, and then he gave us grace for our troubles - grace to overcome sin, and grace to reward obedience - so we rejoice in the Lord. Isaiah 61:3, "to provide for those who mourn in Zion; to give them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, festive oil instead of mourning, and splendid clothes instead of despair. And they will be called righteous trees, planted by the Lord to glorify him."

This is the good life: walking with God as a Friend. This is our high inheritance that makes life worth living by the Spirit. This is having what the world and success cannot give, which is God himself approving of us internally by the Spirit; it is the joy and peace of obedience, and the beauty and comfort of faith [1 John 3:24].