The deepest, most sincere cry is one of unconditional surrender to God and His will. By crying out, we give voice and greater power to our God-given commitments and convictions, and we allow them to triumph over any idols and secret indulgences in our lives. We say, “God, You win. I surrender. I will live by Your rules, not by mine.”
When we continue to cling to those idols and indulgences, God usually refuses to answer our attempted cries. We see this often in Scripture.
In the days of the prophet Jeremiah, God exposed a “conspiracy” among His people: “They have turned back to the iniquities of their forefathers who refused to hear My words, and they have gone after other gods to serve them.” So God pronounced His judgment:
Therefore thus says the LORD: “Behold, I will surely bring calamity on them which they will not be able to escape; and though they cry out to Me, I will not listen to them. Then the cities of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem will go and cry out to the gods to whom they offer incense, but they will not save them at all in the time of their trouble....
“So do not pray for this people, or lift up a
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cry or prayer for them; for I will not hear them in the time that they cry out to Me because of their trouble .” 89
Our true, absolute surrender will include obedience to Gods command to be His loving ambassadors in humble service to those around us, especially to those in great need. Through the prophet Isaiah, God told His people to “loose the bonds of wickedness,” “undo the heavy burdens,” “let the oppressed go free,” “share your bread with the hungry,” “bring to your house the poor who are cast out.” And this promise follows:
Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer;
You shall cry, and He will say, “Here I am .” 90