Wednesday 29 April 2026

Psalm 37:1-11

Background
When you are at your lowest ebb, do you respond with resignation or hopeful initiative? My longed-for ministry within the Methodist Church was cut short when the funding for my lay worker post ran out and I was suddenly dismissed. We’d moved from Essex and acquired another property. With two mortgages now on the go, we had to quickly sell our property back home in order to stay financially afloat.

I was working as a carer to make ends meet. The house sale was dragging on and with our financial situation becoming ever more desperate, one day my patience snapped and I cried out to God in a loud voice: "Lord if you want us to stay here you’d better sell this house right now!" With that, my mobile rang and it was the solicitor ready to exchange contracts!

I had cried out, more in desperation than faith but God heard my prayer and let me know he was on the case.

In Joppa (modern day Jaffa, a suburb of Tel Aviv), we meet Tabitha, the only woman in the New Testament to be explicitly described as a disciple.

Peter, who has a more itinerant ministry, is in nearby Lydda when Tabitha dies and immediately is summoned by the disciples. Commentators have noted that Peter’s actions almost exactly mirror Jesus’ ministry in raising the dead. He sends all the mourners away, kneels and calmly prays, saying: "Tabitha, get up." In Aramaic that is: "Tabitha koum" a change of just one letter from "Talitha koum" which Jesus said to Jairius’ daughter, when he raised her from the dead.

There is no crying out in hopeless desperation as I did that day, just prayer and a steadfast faith that all would be well. Tabitha is raised from the dead and we’re told that "Many believed in the Lord". (v. 42)

Of course, Jesus still hears our cries of desperation in moments of despair.  They are, after all, still prayers. And we pray them, as the apostles did, confident in the life-giving power of Jesus, conferred on the Apostles by the power of the Holy Spirit and now at the disposal of all Jesus’ disciples.

To Ponder:

• Have you ever had a desperate moment when you cried out to God for help? What happened?
• How does Peter stay so calm in a crisis? Do you find it easy to stay trusting in God all the time?
• Jesus told his disciples that they would do greater things than him when the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost, but are resurrection miracles still possible today?

Bible notes author: Sue Moore
Sue Moore is a visiting Anglican preacher on the Methodist circuit in West Norfolk. She is candidating for the role of Distinctive Deacon and together with her husband runs a bereavement support group. They have two greyhounds who keep them fit with plenty of walking.