1489) There are so many questions I have to ask God one day when we’re face to face, though I ask them now, too. One of these questions I often ask in an accusatory way. This question is, God, you tell us over and over in your word that if we cry out to you, you will deliver us. (One such verse is Psalm 34:17.) Why do you promise to deliver me and you don’t? Have you asked this same question?

I have enough faith to not renounce it when I feel God doesn’t do what he says but if we take a closer look at this conflict, maybe we can get some answers.

If we look at Psalm 34:17, “The righteous cry out and God delivers them from all their troubles,” it stirs up a lot of feelings within. Why? Because when I have cried out to God, he often does not deliver me from my troubles, at least in my mind. When thoughts like this appear, I always dig deeper into a verse.

In the Hebrew language, the word for deliver here is natsal ( נָצַל). It means to deliver oneself to another. This opens my eyes and heart as I consider the fact that when I cry out to God, he delivers himself. I understand this to mean that when I need God the most, he gives of himself to me, similar to transferring his strength, so I can continue to put one foot in front of the other.

Go to God and ask for his deliverance, after all, he offers it freely.