WHEN YOUR

Heart
CRIES OUT
TO GOD

When Your Heart Cries Out to God INSIDE.pmd1 4/28/2010, 1:23 PM

When Your Heart Cries Out to God INSIDE.pmd2 4/28/2010, 1:23 PM
 WHEN YOUR
Heart
CRIES OUT
TO GOD
FINDING COMFORT IN LIFE’S TRIALS

HAROLD SALA

OMF LITERATURE INC.

Manila, Philippines

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 Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible: New
International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by the International Bible
Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

Verses marked KJV are taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

Verses marked NKJV are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by
Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Verses marked NASB are taken from the New American Standard Bible®. Copyright ©
1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977 by The Lockman Foundation.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Verses marked TLB are taken from The Living Bible. Copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House
Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, IL 60189 USA. All rights reserved.

Verses marked MSG are taken from The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language.
Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson.
Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.

Verses marked ESV are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright ©
2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission.
All rights reserved.

When Your Heart Cries Out to God

Formerly published as Guidelines for Finding Your Way
Copyright © 2003/2009 by Harold J. Sala
Published by Harvest House Publishers
Eugene, Oregon 97402
www.harvesthousepublishers.com

Published (2010) in the Philippines by

OMF Literature Inc.
776 Boni Avenue
Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila

Cover design by Left Coast Design, Portland, Oregon

Cover photo © iStockphoto.com; Author photo by vasquezstudios.com
Interior design by Aileen Baronggo

ISBN 978-971-009-036-5

Printed in the Philippines

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 A ffectionately dedicated
to the wonderful men and women
—both staff and volunteers—
in the United States
and the Philippines
who have labored alongside me.
Without them
neither this book nor the ministry
of Guidelines International
could have become a reality.

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 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I want to express my appreciation to my daughter Nancy Deushane

for her insightful assistance in grouping the book’s selections; to
Margaret Duffield and Louise Calvert, who spent many hours editing
the manuscript and made significant contributions to the flow of
ideas; and to my administrative assistant, Luisa Ampil, who patiently
edited and processed the materials, which were initially written for
my radio program, Guidelines—A Five Minute Commentary on Living.
My heartfelt gratitude also goes to OMF Literature Inc. for our long-
standing partnership in publishing excellent books that glorify God
and help change lives.

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 CONTENTS

Foreword by RICK WARREN 13

Look Up to God 14

Chapter 1: When You Discover Authentic Christianity

One Thing You Still Lack 16
A Rich Man and the Kingdom of God 18
Becoming a Christian 20
Letting the Image of God Shine Through 22
Born Again 24

Chapter 2: When You Want Peace

The God of Peace 26
Making Peace with God 28
Enjoying the Peace of God 30
The Way That Leads to Peace 32
Peace in Our World 34

Chapter 3: When You Find Real Love

The Need for Love 36
Keeping Love Alive 38
Loving God and Your Neighbor As Yourself 40
The Tremendous Power of Love 42
The Quest for Real Love 44

Chapter 4: When You Take Control of Your Own Life

Closing the Door 46
Steps to Self-Discipline 48
Obedience in Discipline 50
Learning Discipline in an Undisciplined World 52
Discipline from Within and from Without 54

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 Chapter 5: When You Suffer
Suffering—Why? 56
Your Response to Trials 58
Suffering and the Promises of God 60
When Persecution Stalks You 62
When You Suffer 64

Chapter 6: When You Worry

It’s My Nature to Worry 66
If I Can Just Get Through This Problem 68
Why Worry? 70
Do Not Worry; Do Not Be Afraid 72
Worry or Concern? 74

Chapter 7: When You Need Courage

The Need for Courage Today 76
Finding Courage to Do the Common Task 78
Facing Life with Courage 80
Why We Do Not Lose Heart 82
We Do Not Lose Heart 84

Chapter 8: When You Are Afraid

The Fearless Factor 86
Guidelines for Overcoming Fear, Part 1 88
Guidelines for Overcoming Fear, Part 2 90
Guidelines for Overcoming Fear, Part 3 92
From Fear to Trust 94

Chapter 9: When You Hope

The Healing Power of Hope 96
Hope in a Hopeless World 98
The God of All Hope 100
Riding Out the Storm 102
The Blessing of Hope 104

Chapter 10: When You Are Angry

When Anger Gets the Best of You 106
Is It Bad to Get Mad? 108
Why Are We Such an Angry Generation? 110
Handling Your Anger the Right Way 112
Controlling Your Temper 114

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 Chapter 11: When You Are Depressed
Depression Stopper 1: Taking Inventory 116
Depression Stopper 2: There Is a God Who Cares 118
Depression Stopper 3: Prayer Can Turn Despair into Joy 120
Depression Stopper 4: Forgiveness 122
Depression Stopper 5: Getting Back on the Right Path 124

Chapter 12: When You Need Faith

When Your Faith Is Weak 126
Raw, Naked Faith 128
The Eyes of Faith 130
Feeding Your Faith 132
Real-World Faith 134

Chapter 13: When You Wonder Whether Honesty Is the Best Policy
Sure, I’ll Be There 136
We Promise to Start Telling the Truth 138
The Truth About Lying 140
Lies of Necessity 142
Pathological Liars 144

Chapter 14: When You Wonder Whether Life Makes Sense

What Is Life About? 146
Live, Love, Enjoy 148
The Definition of Life 150
Empowerment 152
Hammering in the Old Rusty Nails 154

Chapter 15: When You Become Discouraged

When You Feel Like Quitting 156
How to Deal with Discouragement 158
Running the Race 160
God Daily Bears Our Burdens 162
Going Beyond Your Trouble 164

Chapter 16: When You Are Alone

The Desolation of Loneliness 166
A Cure for Loneliness 168
Loneliness—Dying Every Day 170
Loneliness and Emptiness 172
Loneliness and What It Can Accomplish 174

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 Chapter 17: When You Wonder How Much Is Enough
When Less Is More 176
How Much Is Really Enough? 178
The Sin of Greed 180
Freedom in Simplicity 182
Affluenza 184

Chapter 18: When Your Heart Cries Out for Help

Why Pray If You Can Fix It? 186
Intimacy with God 188
An Inside Connection 190
The Seven Wonders of Prayer 192
Be Careful What You Pray For 194

Chapter 19: When Your Broken Life Needs Healing

There Is Healing Today 196
Has God’s Prescription Expired? 198
The God Who Still Heals 200
When You Need Healing 202
God in the Trenches with You 204

Chapter 20: When You Are Frustrated

Frustration 206
Even Spiritual Giants Get Frustrated 208
Frustration and God’s Child 210
Remember Lot’s Wife 212
Letting Go 214

Chapter 21: When You Hate

The Blindness of Hatred 216
Whom Then Can I Hate? 218
The Curse of Hating Those We Dislike 220
Ridding Your Life of Hatred 222
Lining Up Your Ducks of Love and Hate 224

Chapter 22: When You Need to Say, “I’m Sorry—Forgive Me”

I’m Sorry—Forgive Me 226
When You Cannot Forgive 228
Forgive Them 230
Joseph and Forgiveness 232
No Digging Allowed 234

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 Chapter 23: When You Discover Yourself
Remember, You Were a Slave in Egypt 236
Passion 238
Handling the Stress of Your Life 240
Southpaws Are Okay Too 242
To Be Completely You 244

Chapter 24: When You Are Committed to Excellence

Commitment to Excellence 246
Your Best 248
Why Bother? 250
Looking Back 252
Excess Baggage 254

Chapter 25: When You Come to the Departure Area of Life

on Earth
What Is It Like to Die? 256
Death and Dying 258
Life’s Darkest Hour 260
Wake-Up Calls 262
No More Death or Dying 264

Epilogue 266
Notes 268

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When Your Heart Cries Out to God INSIDE.pmd12 4/28/2010, 1:23 PM
 FOREWORD

A nyone can find a negative or cynical perspective in times of turmoil

and trouble. They’re everywhere, from the doomsday headlines
to the water-cooler conversations about ever-shrinking retirement
accounts. Throw in a daily dose of war and terrorism, a 20/20 broad-
cast about economic downturn, a trip or two to the doctor, a birthday,
and you have a prescription for full-blown pessimism and depression.
Dr. Harold Sala has dedicated his life of ministry to countering
our culture of negativity with the only message of hope and encour-
agement that is lasting: the hope we find in Jesus Christ.
Harold is neither a pop psychologist nor a motivational speaker,
giving out sugary, feel-good messages that fail the real-life tests we
encounter. He is a professor and a student of God’s Word—where he
directs his readers for hope.
This book, When Your Heart Cries Out to God, is intended to be a
source of encouragement covering a vast number of topics with short
insightful comments designed to challenge your thinking, confront
your doubts, push back your cynicism and pessimism, and encourage
you to look up and believe God as you make your way through the
minefields of life.
Could you use some practical insight from the Bible in the areas
of worry and self-discipline? Do you have family members who could
use an encouraging word from Harold on anger, fear, or faith? Do you
have a neighbor or a co-worker who struggles with loneliness, health
issues, or discouragement? These thoughtful chapters can be just the
right message, at just the right time. I think you will be blessed, as Kay
and I have been, by Harold’s uplifting insights.
DR. RICK WARREN
Author of The Purpose-Driven Life
Senior Pastor, Saddleback Church
Lake Forest, California

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 LOOK UP TO GOD

I n the early hours of February 3, 1943, the USS Dorchester, a troop

carrier, was plowing through the frigid, icy seas off the coast of
Greenland. Aboard that overloaded ship were 902 men who were on
their way to join American forces fighting in Europe. The Dorchester,
traveling at half speed because of ice floes, was an easy target for a
German submarine. Unexpectedly and suddenly, the restless sleep of
the men crammed in their bunks was shattered, when a torpedo sliced
through the dark waters and slammed into the bulkhead with a
tremendous blast.
Immediately the gaping hole in the side of the vessel allowed it
to start taking on water. Panic ensued. There were neither enough
life rafts or life jackets for the men. On board that ship were four
chaplains: two Protestants, a Catholic, and a Jew. Seeing there were
insufficient life jackets, the four chaplains took off theirs and gave
them to men whose lives had been spared. As the ship began to list,
these four held hands in a heroic show of unity and prayed as the
ship went to its icy grave only 27 minutes after the torpedo struck.
Only 230 of the 902 aboard that ship lived to tell about the dark
night of disaster, but when the survivors were rescued, they told the
story of the four chaplains and what they had done. Every newspaper
in the Western world carried the story and eulogized their self-
sacrificing deed.
But as Paul Harvey says, “It’s the story behind the story” that
makes this even more meaningful. One of those chaplains, Lieutenant
Clark Poling, was the son of well-known Christian leader Dr. Daniel
Poling, the editor of The Christian Century magazine. Back when Clark
had been a college student, Dr. Poling had received a telephone call
saying, “Dad, I’m coming home. Don’t tell Mom but meet my train
at . . .” and he told him when he was arriving.

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 LOOK UP TO GOD

If you had been the father who got such a telephone call, what
would you have thought? You would probably have asked yourself,
What is so important that he has to come home and talk and doesn’t want his
mother to know about it? Is there a girl involved? What’s wrong?
The dad met the train, and the two of them drove to the church
office, where they went in, closed the door, and sat down. The dad
then said, “Okay, son, what is it you want to talk about?”
A sober young man looked at his father and said, “Dad, what do
you know about God? I’ve got to know for myself !” What Dr. Poling
told him was important—tremendously important. (You’ll find his
answer in the epilogue. Don’t peek now!)
There are seasons to the journey of life from the moment you
come into the world to the time when, if you have accepted the gift
of salvation through Jesus Christ, God calls you home to heaven.
And our needs, which are different from time to time, prompt our
hearts to cry out to God—sometimes in pain, sometimes in need,
sometimes in fear, sometimes because we want to know Him
better, and sometimes in praise and worship.
15
When Your Heart Cries Out to God is intended to be a source of
encouragement throughout the changing seasons of life. In this
book you will find selections on 25 topics relating to life’s challenges.
Of course, you can use the table of contents and go directly to
the section that will help you through a particular need; however,
I encourage you to read one selection each weekday (five a week),
along with the “resource reading” for a snapshot from Scripture.
You may want to highlight thoughts or make notations in the margins
of the book or in a journal to help you in the future as you face
particular needs.
May God encourage your heart as you find your way through life,
learning that God is sufficient for every need, for every crisis, for
every day from the cradle to the time you cross the Jordan and enter
into the presence of the Lord!

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 ONE THING YOU STILL LACK
INSIGHT:
God gave you a spiritual
nature, and no matter how
much you have in life, until
you connect with Him there
will always be an
ingredient missing from
your life.
When Jesus heard this, he
said to him, “You still lack one
thing. Sell everything you have
and give to the poor, and you
will have treasure in heaven.
Then come, follow me.”
LUKE 18:22

A nyone who has ever visited ancient Jericho can testify to the reality
that in the summer it can be unbearably hot. Locals are con-
vinced that hell itself is only ten degrees hotter than Jericho. There is
an old aphorism that in China only mad dogs and Englishmen go out
in the noonday sun, and that surely applies to Jericho as well, which
is why a remarkable drama unfolded as Jesus approached the city on
His way to Jerusalem.
So vivid was this happening in the life of Jesus that three of Jesus’
biographers—Matthew, Mark, and Luke—wrote about it. The story
itself is simple enough. A young man, having heard that Jesus was
passing by, came running and knelt before Him (Mark 10:17), voicing
a question that was perplexing to him.
There is an element of urgency in this encounter. The man had
made no appointment. Neither did he bother to consider whether his
interview was convenient for Jesus. He simply knew that this was his
opportunity to get something off his chest, and he had to take advan-
tage of the moment.
There is also an element of drama in the situation as well. All
three of the Gospel writers point out that this man was wealthy.
People with lots of money do not run. They snap their fingers and
give orders, and others do the running for them. Furthermore, there
is an element of desperation as well. Men with money are used to
people deferring to them—but humiliating himself before Jesus, the

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 CHAPTER 1 – WHEN YOU DISCOVER AUTHENTIC CHRISTIANITY

young man kneels in the dusty road. Looking up into the face of
Jesus, he asks, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
In the event you have never studied the Gospels (meaning Matthew,
Mark, Luke, and John), you need to know that each one represents a
different viewpoint. Mark is called the Gospel of Action. Reflecting a
Roman viewpoint, Mark goes to the heart of things. He does not
waste words. Mark points out something that his colleagues Matthew
and Luke omit. At this point Mark says, “Jesus looked at him and
loved him” (Mark 10:21). For “looked,” two Greek words could have
been used. The first means to observe casually. But the other word—
the one Mark used—means to gaze intently at someone. So Jesus
looked intently into the face of this troubled young man who knelt
before Him and loved him, knowing full well that the great wealth he
had would be a stumbling block.
“You still lack one thing,” He said, adding, “Sell everything you
have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.
Then come, follow me” (Luke 18:22).
So he immediately disposed of his wealth, forsook his easy
17
lifestyle, and became a disciple, right? Wrong. The record says he
walked away full of sorrow because he was very rich.
What’s the issue? It’s simple: Who or what comes first in your
life? Your money, your power, your position, or your God? Earlier
Jesus had said, “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all
these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:33).
Andrew, my grandson, had just turned seven when he shocked
his mother by saying, “Mother, I’m afraid I’m going to go to hell!”
“Why?” asked Bonnie, somewhat perplexed.
“Because I’m afraid I love my little blue bucket and shovel [a
birthday gift] more than God!”
Whether it is your pride, your wealth, or your little blue bucket
that stands between you and obedience to the will of God, Jesus
wants to come first. “Come and follow Me,” is still the invitation
Jesus Christ makes to those who ask, “What must I do to inherit
eternal life?”

RESOURCE READING: LUKE 18:18–30

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 A RICH MAN AND THE KINGDOM OF GOD
INSIGHT:
There is a deep longing
in the heart of every person
to know God. Your thirst
to know Him was put there
so He might satisfy it.
Jesus said to his disciples,
“I tell you the truth, it is hard
for a rich man to enter the
kingdom of heaven. Again I tell
you, it is easier for a camel to
go through the eye of a needle
than for a rich man to enter
the kingdom of God.”
MATTHEW 19:23–24

T ruth is always stranger than fiction, and nothing is more enter-

taining than real life. That’s the way it was when a young man
encountered Jesus as He was approaching Jericho on His way to Jeru-
salem. The whole incident was touching but awkward. Hearing that
Christ was passing his way, the young man ran and knelt before Jesus.
In response to his question about what he needed to do to inherit
eternal life, Jesus told him that he still lacked one thing. What was it?
First, we know it was not adequate resources. Matthew, Mark,
and Luke all describe him as having “great wealth.” So money was
not lacking. John Paul Getty, once among the richest in the world,
used to say that when you know how much money you have, you
aren’t very rich. This young man probably was included in that group
of elite who had more money than they could count. But with all his
money, he did not find happiness. He had the mark of desperation as
he ran and knelt before Jesus.
The second thing he did not lack was education and culture.
This was obvious from his speech and his deportment. Money can
buy an education, but it cannot buy happiness—something that Amy
Vanderbilt learned. This woman, whose name was synonymous with
etiquette and culture, had all the advantages a good family can give—
yet she was miserable and unhappy. Troubled with an unhappy
marriage and health problems, we will never know whether her fall
from the window of her townhouse was accidental or suicidal. What

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 CHAPTER 1 – WHEN YOU DISCOVER AUTHENTIC CHRISTIANITY

we do know is that money, culture, and opportunities are no guaran-

tee of lasting happiness.
The third thing this young man did not lack was influence and
achievement. Luke, a medical doctor, described this young man as
“a ruler,” meaning a leader of a synagogue, an important position
that carried respect, authority, and influence. J. Robert Oppenheimer,
the German-born Nobel Prize–winning scientist, had influence,
achievement, and recognition. He was known as the Father of the
Atomic Bomb, yet he died frustrated and unfulfilled. Speaking of his
successes he said, “They leave on the tongue only the taste of ashes.”
Finally, this young man also did not lack moral goodness. Frankly,
he was the kind of man you would like for a neighbor—because by
his own account he was not a murderer, adulterer, or liar, and he
honored his parents and loved others around him. Yet Jesus told him
that he lacked one thing: What was it? Going to the bottom line,
Jesus told Him that what he lacked was a personal relationship
with God, which Jesus had come to bring. Lacking this, the young
man lacked everything. “Go, sell everything you have and give to
19
the poor . . . then come, follow me,” Jesus told him.
Did he do it? No, he turned and walked away sorrowfully
because his wealth meant more to him than having a relationship
with God.
Lest you misunderstand, the point of the story is not that success
is wrong in itself. What is wrong is anything that crowds God out of
your life, anything that leaves no room for Him to be your Lord.
Today a lot of us have the same struggle. The push for success, the
desire to get ahead, the need to gain power or influence—these are
all-consuming and thus become lord of our lives. Well did Jesus point
out “a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his posses-
sions” (Luke 12:15).
Take time to read the account of this young man’s conversation
with Jesus found in Luke 18. You may see yourself mirrored in
his image.

RESOURCE READING: MATTHEW 19:16–26

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