18 THE LORD IS NEAR TO ALL WHO CALL ON HIM,
to all who call on him in truth. Psalm 145, David
We said yesterday that many of God’s people feel worn out and discouraged at the present time, but God wants us to know that He’s with us, especially when we’re going through trials and difficulties.
1 God is our refuge and strength,
AN EVER-PRESENT HELP IN TROUBLE.
2 THEREFORE WE WILL NOT FEAR, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging. Psalm 46
The Living Bible quotes Psalm 46:1, saying that God is, ‘A TESTED HELP IN TIMES OF TROUBLE’. God stays with us and helps us in trying times.
The Message Bible also renders the opening verses of this psalm very vividly;
46 1-3 GOD IS A SAFE PLACE TO HIDE,
READY TO HELP WHEN WE NEED HIM.
We stand fearless at the cliff-edge of doom,
courageous in seastorm and earthquake,
Before the rush and roar of oceans,
the tremors that shift mountains.
Jacob-wrestling God fights for us,
GOD-OF-ANGEL-ARMIES PROTECTS US.
Remember when the king of Aram sent his army to take Elisha prisoner for revealing his plans to the king of Israel and his servant saw the enemy and was afraid, BUT ELISHA WAS NOT! Elisha saw God in their situation, he saw from heaven’s perspective and knew that the angel armies sent to assist them were much more powerful. Elisha hadn’t asked for those armies, God had already sent them.
17 And Elisha prayed, ‘Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.’ Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all round Elisha. 2 Kings 6
God is able to open our eyes to see from heaven’s viewpoint and I believe that this is going to be happening more often in the times ahead. The battle we’re facing right now is being waged on two levels and the spiritual level is the more important. God may have something to show us in our individual situations if we’ll get still before Him and ask Him. Amen
We said yesterday that David faced relentless pressures from enemies both outside and inside his home, but God rescued him from them all and he testified to God’s faithfulness at the very end of his life.
4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me;
he delivered me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him are radiant;
their faces are never covered with shame.
6 This poor man called, and the Lord heard him;
HE SAVED HIM OUT OF ALL HIS TROUBLES.
7 The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him,
and HE DELIVERS THEM.
People talk about, ‘Fair weather golfers or runners’, but God isn’t like that. He’s with us from the beginning of our journey to the end, so if you’re in difficulty, press in and ask for His help. He’ll never abandon us.
May the Lord bless and keep you today. Immanuel, God is with us.