![with my voice to the lord i cried coptic reader with my voice to the lord i cried coptic reader](https://lectionaryartorg.files.wordpress.com/2017/05/n-0077-00-000023-wpu.jpg)
The Psalmist King David revealed an important insight that he had learned.NIV: Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress. Psalm 55:17, KJV Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice. If your mind is distracted or confused and you can’t seem to get your thoughts together, simply call out to God for His mercy. Sometimes the simplest and best prayer in times of trouble is the prayer that says, “Lord, have mercy!” In fact, in the Gospels, it was often the Lord’s mercy that prompted many of the great physical healings that He performed. Give me relief from my distress be merciful to me and hear my prayer. Psalm 4:1 Answer me when I call to you, O my righteous God. In your time of distress, like Peter, cry out, “Lord, save me! Lord, help me!” And He will hear and intercede on your behalf.Beginning to sink, Peter cried out, “Lord, save me!” And Jesus did so, reaching His hand out to Peter and bringing him safely back to the boat. The violent wind and the surging waves put terror in his heart. Imagine Peter’s fear as he began to walk on the water to Jesus (Matthew 14:30-31).And be assured that He will both hear you and save you. Even if you face what seems to be calamity, “cry out” to God in the midst of your troubles.2 Chronicles 20:9 If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague or famine, we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name and will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us and save us. In the midst of your difficulties, “call out” to God.From his temple he heard my voice my cry came to his ears. 2 Samuel 22:7 In my distress I called to the LORD I called out to my God. And He will give you the assurance that, no matter how pressing the trouble you face, He will be “with you wherever” you go. As with Jacob, God is ready and willing to answer your cry to Him in the day of your distress.Genesis 35:3 Then come, let us go up to Bethel, where I will build an altar to God, who answered me in the day of my distress and who has been with me wherever I have gone. My intent was not to address the details of the contexts, but rather to embrace the words of encouragement to be found in them. Rather they appear in the order I found them in the Bible, along with the personal encouragement that they provided to me. Explanatory note: the following verses are not presented in “sermon” format. May these inspirational words provide that same heavenly comfort to you in your difficult times. Summary: A health crisis in a family member drove me deep into the Scriptures, where I found comforting words from God in my time of distress. Comforting Words in Times of Distress by Pastor Jim Feeney, Ph.D.