It was one of those hectic days where, the moment I hung up from one call, another came in. Call after call—so many people in pain, and the familiar voices of regulars who were simply lonely and seeking connection. After some effort, I managed to politely wrap up a conversation with one of the regulars, explaining that with the lines buzzing, there might be someone in crisis who needed immediate help. Reluctantly, he agreed to say goodbye.
Just as I put the phone down, it rang again—and this time, a desperate voice greeted me.
“I was flipping through channels last Friday night and came across your 3ABN Today Family Worship program on spiritual warfare,” he said. “I can’t believe I’m reaching out to you—I’m a very private person and I’ve never opened up to anyone before. But I’m overwhelmed and need someone to talk to.”
“You did the right thing by calling,” I reassured him. “I’m here to listen and to pray with you.”
“My name is Clarence*,” he began. “I grew up in a Christian home that had very strict rules, but there was no emphasis on relationship with God. After I got married, I had a terrible accident that left me physically injured. I fell into a deep depression, and I refused to talk about my feelings with my wife, Cindy*. Instead, I turned to pornography, and eventually alcohol. That was the breaking point. Cindy divorced me, but we stayed friends. I’ve become a recluse, hardly ever going out, so we didn’t see each other often. But we talked several times a week.
“When I didn’t hear from her for five or six days, I knew something was wrong. I tried reaching out, but no one answered. Finally, I called her brother to check on her. He found her body. She had been dead for five or six days. Cindy died alone, with no one around, and no one noticed. I feel so guilty. Why didn’t I call her sooner?
“Today, it hit me hard. Sitting here in my apartment, I realized how out of control my life has become. I’m addicted to porn, and I’m drowning in alcohol. I feel dirty, worthless. I’ve lost all self-respect, and I have no confidence left.
“I’ve prayed, asking God to help me forget how she died, to pull me out of the darkness of my sinful behavior. But I have to ask—does God hear the prayers of a sinner like me?”
“Well, Clarence, do you have a pen and paper handy?” I asked gently. “I want to make sure you have a list of Scriptures that will directly answer your question from God’s Word.”
After a brief moment of shuffling, Clarence replied, “I’m ready.”
“Clarence, the Bible tells us in Isaiah 59:2 that our sins create a separation between us and God, so that He will not hear. But it also assures us in 1 John 1:9 that if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us. Not only does He forgive, but He cleanses us from all unrighteousness. This means He makes us righteous through our faith in Him.
“Paul reminds us in Romans 3:23–24 that all of us have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory—His perfect standard of righteousness,” I continued. “But we are justified, or declared ‘not guilty,’ freely by His grace through the redemption that comes in Christ Jesus.
“Now, jot down this list of Scriptures:
2 Chronicles 7:14–15
Psalm 27:14
Psalm 34:15–17
Psalm 37:4
Psalm 40:1
Psalm 91:15
Psalm 143:1–2
Psalm 145:18
And add Proverbs 15:29.”
Clarence was clearly running on empty when it came to faith. Since faith comes by hearing, I read each Scripture aloud to him. As I spoke, I could hear him taking deep breaths, and I sensed that he was starting to feel the love and faithfulness of God again.
“So, to sum this up, Clarence: God is speaking directly to you. He asks that you humble yourself, pray, and seek His face. And He promises to hear you from Heaven and forgive you. He says to wait on Him, and He will strengthen your heart. Once you’ve confessed and asked for forgiveness, you’re made righteous by faith, Clarence. His eyes are on you, and He hears you. He will deliver you from your troubles and give you the desires of your heart.
“When you wait patiently, trusting in the Lord, He hears your cries. God promises that when you call on Him, He will answer and deliver you. In His faithfulness and righteousness, He listens and He acts. The Lord is near to all who call on Him in truth, and He hears the prayers of those He has made righteous by faith in Jesus Christ.”
When I finished speaking, there was a long pause before Clarence finally responded. “I’m such a private person. I can’t believe I called you today,” he said softly, his voice thick with emotion. “God knew I needed to talk to you. You’ve given me something to hold on to, something to hope for. I finally understand—God really does hear the prayers of someone like me.”
There are moments in all our lives when we feel unworthy of God’s attention. None of us truly deserve His grace, but His love is so great that He seeks to save each of us. Don’t fight your spiritual battles alone. Turn to the Lord—the God of your salvation—and rest in the truth that He hears the prayers of sinners, just like you and me.
*A pseudonym
