God is Ever-Present Help in Trouble

Photo By Rebecca Herber

The news lately has been filled with so much violence. There is violence happening in schools, malls, theatres, homes, work, and we can’t even go to a prayer meeting without violence happening.  Add on to that there is all types of abuse, divorce, adultery, affairs, death of children, and I could go on.   This world is so full of sin.

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10

           

            I watched on TV the sermon at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston this past Sunday.  What I heard was not so much anger, but more asking the people to have more a reliance on God.  Not, to understand why it happened, but to lean on God for the strength of healing.  The news anchor was having a hard time understanding this concept. They were shocked at the response.  People singing “Amazing Grace” in the streets. 

The Revered Norvel Goff said during prayer, “The doors of the church are open.  No evil doer, no demon in hell or on Earth can close the doors of God’s church.”  That can also be said for us.  No evil doer, no demon in hell or on Earth can close the door on us from God. 

…God is my refuge and strength, an EVER-present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1

Photo by Rebecca Herber

            Is there still sadness? Absolutely, however, “Weeping may last for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.” (Psalm 30:5)   God is my strength.  I lean on Him.  My God is my refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble…this means that He is ALWAYS present.  He will never leave you alone.  I am never alone.

            Do you understand how awesome that is?  We are never alone.  We, you and I, don’t have to go through whatever we are going through by ourselves.  Yes, there are times that we feel like it. We try to do it on our own, or maybe we don’t think anyone understands what we are going through. I have been there, but to come into the light after darkness is the most amazing thing.  There is a huge relief that comes. 

Photo by Rebecca Herber

“Dear Father, thank you for being our ever-present help in trouble.  Thank you for being our comfort, our refuge, our strength.  There are so many other words to describe You.  We may not understand why bad things happen, but we have the faith and hope that You will be there to get us through. Amen.”

Laura Maxson

He is our Comfort…

I felt Jesus’ arms wrap around me in an embrace as I was screaming and crying into my pillow.  I felt His arms holding me tightly as the tears rolled down my face.  The panic attack was gripping my body. 

These panic attacks had become a common thing.  I had tried everything to make them stop.  That night, I even tried the breathing technique that my counselor had given me.  It helped some, but nothing was stopping the attacks completely. I was trying to catch my breath.  In a moment of complete desperation, I cried out, “GOD, I need you.  I can’t do this anymore.  Where are you?”

 “He reached down from on high and took hold of me; He drew me out of the deep waters.” - Psalm 18:16

Those arms around me, stilled me.  Jesus comforted me that night.  There were many nights and days just like that.  Until I finally realized that I couldn’t do it on my own.  When I realized that, the panic attacks stopped.

I struggled for many years, longer than necessary.   I struggled to do it on my own. God was always there waiting for me to realize that I could not overcome it on my own.   Through Him, I have overcome the events of my past.  I am complete in Him.

He also opened my eyes to a lot of answers that I had been needing. He had always been there, even when the tragic events happened to me.  I asked the question and demanded an answer from God.  “Why did you allow this to happen to me?  Was this part of your plan? I was a child.  Why?”

His answer. “No, this was not part of My plan. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declared the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11) 

Sin is in this world. Yet, even though sin is in this world, and our free will in existence, He will never leave our sides.  Maybe God can’t intervene on some things, like times when intervening would interfere with someone else’s free will.  Maybe there are times that things happen, and we don’t understand.  Maybe we will never understand why they happened.  God is there.  God is here.

 “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” - Hebrews 13:5

            In our darkest hour, He is there.  In our brightest moment, He is there.  So, no matter what we are going through, He is there.  I know there were times in my life that I felt like no one understood.  No one knew what I was going through.  There were times that I couldn’t even communicate what I was going through, but God knew what I was going through.

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. - Psalm 147:3

Each day is a choice.  Am I going to lean onto my own understanding, or lean on Him and rely on Him?  Today, I rely on Him.

Laura Maxson

June Prayer Topic: God is my Comfort…

Have you ever been so low that you feel completely and utterly alone?  I have.  I have been to the depths of darkness.

photo Rebecca Herber

When traumatic things happen to us in life, we wonder where God was.  Where is God?  What did I do to deserve this?  Where was God in that event?  If He loves me, why did he let this happen to me?

Does this sound familiar?  It does to me.  I have said it a lot.  I have cried out to God.  I have been angry with God for what happened to me. It wasn’t fair, and it wasn’t right.  Why didn’t God protect me from that event?  Why didn’t he stop it?

I don’t have the all the answers. Yet, I have learned a few things.  One thing that I have learned is that what happened to me, was NOT God’s plan.  It did not happen to make me stronger, or more empathetic to others.    It was NOT His plan.

A couple of years ago, I was driving to my folks’ house, and I was listening to the song by Casting Crowns “Praise You in this Storm.”  I was still at that angry stage of asking, where was God?  Then, I paid attention to a verse.  “Every tear I’ve cried you hold in your hand.  You never left my side and though my heart is torn, I will praise you in this storm.”

Tears were rolling down my face.  I went back in my memories to that time.  There I had a “vision” of God beside me holding me with tears rolling down His face.  I “saw” Him holding me so tightly.  He was/is my comfort.

I have learned that:

" When you pass through the waters,
    I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
    they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
    you will not be burned;
    the flames will not set you ablaze." Isaiah 43:2

This is God’s promise to each of us.   Even today, when I hear that song, I am reminded that God has never/will never leave my side.

photo Rebecca Herber

Dear Lord,

I pray that you reveal Yourself to others as You did to me.  We all go through traumatic events, and tough times, and we don’t know why.  You are always there.  We may not understand completely why things happen.  I do know that these traumatic events are not part of your plan. It hurts You to see us go through these things.  I have faith that You are there with me.  Others need that same faith.  Lord, you are my comfort, and my shelter in the storm. Amen

Laura Maxson