Beginning to Sink, He Cried, Saying, Lord, Save Me
In times of trouble, prayer is our natural response and our haven of refuge, and Jesus hears our cries and acts swiftly to help us.
C.H. Spurgeon emphasizes that in times of sinking and distress, prayer becomes a natural response for believers, as demonstrated by Peter's cry for help when he began to sink. He highlights that even short prayers, like Peter's three-word plea, are powerful and sufficient when uttered from a place of genuine need. Spurgeon reassures that our extremities are opportunities for God's intervention, and that Jesus is always ready to respond to our cries for help, no matter how late they may come. He encourages believers to turn to prayer as a refuge during life's storms, trusting that Jesus will not let them perish. Ultimately, when we are at our weakest, Jesus is at His strongest, ready to save us.
Text
Sinking times are praying times with the Lord's servants. Peter neglected prayer at starting upon his venturous journey, but when he began to sink his danger made him a suppliant, and his cry though late was not too late. In our hours of bodily pain and mental anguish, we find ourselves as naturally driven to prayer as the wreck is driven upon the shore by the waves. The fox hies to its hole for protection; the bird flies to the wood for shelter; and even so the tried believer hastens to the mercy seat for safety. Heaven's great harbour of refuge is All-prayer; thousands of weather-beaten vessels have found a haven there, and the moment a storm comes on, it is wise for us to make for it with all sail.
Short prayers are long enough. There were but three words in the petition which Peter gasped out, but they were sufficient for his purpose. Not length but strength is desirable. A sense of need is a mighty teacher of brevity. If our prayers had less of the tail feathers of pride and more wing they would be all the better. Verbiage is to devotion as chaff to the wheat. Precious things lie in small compass, and all that is real prayer in many a long address might have been uttered in a petition as short as that of Peter.
Our extremities are the Lord's opportunities. Immediately a keen sense of danger forces an anxious cry from us the ear of Jesus hears, and with Him ear and heart go together, and the hand does not long linger. At the last moment we appeal to our Master, but His swift hand makes up for our delays by instant and effectual action. Are we nearly engulfed by the boisterous waters of affliction? Let us then lift up our souls unto our Saviour, and we may rest assured that He will not suffer us to perish. When we can do nothing Jesus can do all things; let us enlist His powerful aid upon our side, and all will be well.
Sermon Outline
- I. Sinking Times Are Praying Times
- A. Danger drives us to prayer
- B. Prayer is our natural response to trouble
- II. The Importance of Prayer in Times of Need
- A. Prayer is our haven of refuge
- B. Heaven's harbour is All-prayer
- III. The Power of Short Prayers
- A. Length is not necessary, strength is
- B. A sense of need teaches us brevity
- IV. Our Extremities Are the Lord's Opportunities
- A. Jesus hears our cries in times of danger
- B. His swift hand makes up for our delays
Key Quotes
“Short prayers are long enough.” — C.H. Spurgeon
“Our extremities are the Lord's opportunities.” — C.H. Spurgeon
“When we can do nothing Jesus can do all things;” — C.H. Spurgeon
Application Points
- In times of trouble, don't hesitate to cry out to God in prayer.
- Remember that Jesus hears our cries and acts swiftly to help us.
- Enlist God's powerful aid in our times of need.