Stay tuned for encouragement from Our Daily Bread.

The devotional for today titled Praying in Difficult Times was written by Glenn Packiam.

Author and theologian Russell Moore described noticing the eerie silence in the Russian orphanage

where he adopted his boys. Someone later explained that the babies had stopped crying because

they learned that no one would respond to their cries. When we face difficult times,

we too can feel that no one hears, And worst of all, we can feel that

God himself doesn't listen to our cries or see our tears. But he does. And that's why we need the

language of petition and protest found especially in the book of Psalms. The psalmist's petition for God's help and also protest their

situation to him. In Psalm 61, David brings his petitions and protests before his creator, stating,

I call to you. I call as my heart grows faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. David cries out to God,

because he knows that only he is his refuge in strong tower. Praying the petitions and protests of the

Psalms is a way of affirming God's sovereignty and appealing to his goodness and faithfulness.

They're proof of the intimate relationship we can experience with God.

In difficult moments, we can all be tempted to believe the lie that he doesn't care.

But he does.

He hears us and is with us.

Today's Our Daily Bread devotional scripture reading is Psalm 61.

Hear my cry, O God. Listen to my prayer. From the ends of the earth, I call to you. I call as my heart grows faint.

Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe.

I long to dwell in your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of your wings.

For you, God, have heard my vows.

You have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.

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