Call Out to Him

A Reflection on the Psalm for April 18th, 2021:
Third Sunday of Easter

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Psalm 4

R. Let the light of your face shine on us, O Lord.

Answer me when I call, O God of my right! You gave me room when I was in distress. Be gracious to me, and hear my prayer. 

R. Let the light of your face shine on us, O Lord.

But know that the Lord has set apart the faithful for himself; the Lord hears when I call to him. 

R. Let the light of your face shine on us, O Lord.

There are many who say, “O that we might see · some good! Let the light of your face shine on us, O Lord!” 

R. Let the light of your face shine on us, O Lord.

I will both lie down and sleep in peace; for you alone, O Lord, make me lie down in safety. 

R. Let the light of your face shine on us, O Lord.
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Pause. Pray.

And then read more...

​The Lord always hears when we call out to Him. 

This psalm could not have come around at a better time for me! Last week I often found myself calling out to the Lord in distress. I am currently wrapping up my bachelor’s degree and just had probably the most stressful week of my university career because I had to submit and defend my honours thesis. Because of all this anxiety, I frequently found myself begging God to help give me peace and confidence about all of the hard work that I was putting in. After a while, I became frustrated that these anxious feelings were not leaving me. I wondered if God was really hearing my prayers. 

But eventually, I realized that that whole time I had not been fully surrendering the situation over to Him. I held on to doubts that anyone but me could help me through the week. How could the Lord help me if I wasn’t letting Him?

On the morning of my thesis defense, I was riddled with nerves. I had stomach pains, nausea, and shakiness as I tried to prepare for this last part of my honours degree. Although I spent hours preparing, none of it placated my intense stress. It wasn’t until about 20 minutes before my defense that I decided to pray about it. I was filled with negative thoughts and felt sick with physical stress symptoms. I asked the Lord to help me gain confidence in the fact that I am doing my absolute best, and that I cannot control the rest of it. I fully surrendered the situation over to Him, asking Him to guide me through it with inner peace and knowledge.

Within minutes, I began to feel a sense of calm wash over me. I had a new outlook on the situation. This was now a chance for me to show all of the effort I had put into my preparation. And God would guide me through it. 

The defense went well. I was calm and confident in my answers and I know that the Lord certainly helped me that day. The Lord always hears us when we call out to Him. He wants to provide us with rest and safety. All we have to do is let Him. 




​Megan Noye
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