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Thoughts on Today's Verse.... At first, this cry for help seems very demanding by those of us who are praying to God. Closer inspection shows that this is really a cry of desperation — Give me relief from my distress; be merciful to me and hear my prayer. Have you been there? I surely have, and I regularly hear from folks who are there right now. But, dear friend in Jesus, read how this whole psalm. What is the secret to surviving a long agony? I believe three things are important, and they are found in this psalm: Honesty in our prayer life with God (Psalm 4:1-2). Confidence that God hears and cares even when our prayers sizzle with pain and frustration (Psalm 4:3-5). Genuine praise for God that is included in our prayers even when things seem bleak, others oppose us, and God feels distant (Psalm 4:6-8). Such an approach to prayer is not a magical formula but a Spirit-inspired one — check it out in Psalm 4:1-8!