A Very Present Help

Aloha Dearest Family,

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof, Selah. (Psalms 46:1-3)

We live in a chaotic world. All you have to do is turn on the TV, log onto a computer, or open up a newspaper or magazine to find that this is true. Trouble is abounding on all sides. Why? Because the devil is the god of this world and runs the show. But what is equally true is that God, who is our Father, is our refuge and strength and is a very present help in trouble. Too many people, even Christians, when trouble occurs, they let their situation be their reality and buckle under. But what happened to God? He was right there waiting for them to call out to Him and help. And He wants to help you.  There are dozens and dozens of examples in the Bible of people calling out to God in impossible situations and finding that God was there all along. He was a very present help in their trouble. 

I think of Samson in the hands of the Philistines after his own kinsman had turned him over into the hands of his enemy. This seems like a hopeless situation unless you realize that God is a very present help in trouble. Samson killed 1,0000 men that day.

I think of Daniel being lowered in the lion’s den for defying the King’s law (a  law he was tricked into signing). What do you think he was thinking? I bet he was convinced that God was a very present help in trouble. He may not have known how God was going to do it, but he was convinced that God would save him. God shut all the mouths of the lions that night and Daniel emerged unhurt.

I think of King Hezekiah when the King of Assyria and an enormous army came up to Jerusalem to take it. Assyria had taken every single nation in the region captive and Jerusalem was the last stronghold. Sennacherib, the King of Assyria lays siege to the city and threatens the people of the city, telling them not to listen to Hezekiah because his God will not be able to help them (II Chronicles 32:10-12). In this desperate situation King Hezekiah goes to God and asks for help.  God sends Isaiah the prophet to tell Hezekiah His answer. 

Therefore thus saith the Lord concerning the king of Assyria, He shall not come into this city, nor shoot an arrow there, nor come before it with shield, nor cast a bank against it. By the way that he came, by the same shall he return, and shall not come into this city, saith the Lord. For I will defend this city to save it, for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake. (II Kings 19:32-34)

That night 185,000 men lay dead among the Assyrian army and the King of Assyria returns home, (where he is killed by his own sons). God knows how to deliver us from trouble.  Isaiah also writes,

 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my rightousness. (Isaiah 41:10). 

This is a promise to God’s people, Israel. But it is also a promise that we can claim for our own, as God’s sons and daughters. God has not changed. He is still the same.When I ask someone if they believe that God can help them and will be there when we need Him, they will say “Yes, of course he will”. But then if they hear a bad diagnosis or some calamity hits, they forget that God is a very present help in trouble. Remember, Romans 8:31,

“What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?” Because God, our Father, is always present with us, then it doesn’t matter what happens, God is for us and God is on our side. He will never leave us nor forsake us. If you keep reading in Romans 8 it says that we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. Notice it doesn’t mention the battle. Why? Because it doesn’t matter what comes against us, we are still more than conquers. We are more than conquerors because we go to God for help and because we know that He is our present help in trouble.

Love Always, Ray