I do not think I will be tired by or be left unchallenged by the prayer of the psalmist who is so earnest in his tone, and so loud in the volume of his voice – or at least I do not hear him whispering them. There are needs that are to be expressed and there are sorrows that need to be vented. There is an audience in heaven that needs to hear this prayer and all the help that is needed is asked to be given. As a follower of Jesus I am eager for an answer and I rest in the truth that they enter into His ears. All I need to know is that God is listening, is preparing an answer as His wisdom seems fit in addressing it. Crying sometimes happen when things get this complicated. It does matter when I cry and I know every prayer breath and sigh is never spent in vain.

Hear my cry, O God;
    listen to my prayer!
In despair and far from home
    I call to you! – Psalm 61:1-2 GNT

Prayer was never meant to be restrained and so being loud and crying is invited just as much as silence and sighs. There is no unsuitable place for prayer and there is no end to spending time with God. He is where I am when I pray. He walks with me through even the unimaginable places I may find myself in. I need to make the decision to pray for if I cease to pray will I not become the victim of despair and does my end come when I cease to pray? It is hard to come up with words when my heart is drowning and yet there I find God for He is there bringing me to Him. It is a thought that brings courage when I think that He is close enough to me to hear me when I call.

Take me to a safe refuge,
   for you are my protector,
    my strong defense against my enemies. – Psalm 61:3 GNT

It is God who becomes the sure foundation, my guide, the giver of vision and the one who lifts me up. It is true that a Saviour would have been of no use to me if the Holy Spirit had not gently led me to Him and enabled me to rest on Him. I not only need a safe refuge, I need to be led to it. For this reason I disciple and walk with those who have half believing prayers for I cannot expect them to have fully experienced the ability to cry.

You have heard my promises, O God, and you have given me what belongs to those who honor you. – Psalm 61:5 GNT

So I pray and lead others to pray during times of great need and have great hope that God has heard my heart’s desire. It is in this place that I need God to lead me to a place of security and strength. Prayer becomes then my first response in troubled times.

These two pieces by Edwards are complimentary. One is a personal account of spiritual experience and the other other is a biblical philosophical account of how spiritual experience works. Reading the two in combination could be life-changing, or at least should be prayer-life-changing. – Timothy Keller: Edwards, Jonathan – Personal Narrative and A Divine and Supernatural Light.