God’s Help – Psalm 46:1
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Where do you turn for solutions and peace of mind when faced with overwhelming struggles—a therapist, self-help books, relaxation exercises, anti-depressants, or behavioral-modification techniques? While these may be helpful, they alone cannot provide soul-changing cures.
The Lord, through His Word, provides an exceedingly better source of wisdom, comfort, help, and revelation to solve our problems. Therefore, we need not settle for temporary, partial, or counterfeit fixes. Rather we can turn to our Creator, the mighty King who reigns over the universe, and He will shake the foundations of the earth if necessary to help us and give us a peace that goes so deep that no cyclone can uproot it and no tsunami can wash it away.
Consider our all-powerful God and His extreme love for us. Is He not God in the heavens, and is He not ruler over all the kingdoms of the nations? Does He not hold power and might in His hand, so no one can stand against Him,[1] and does He not care for us?[2] Has He not promised to “open rivers on the bare heights and springs in the midst of the valleys,” and to “make the wilderness a pool of water and the dry land fountains of water” for us?[3] He is, He does, and He has!
We miss the extravagant riches of God’s grace when we do what is right in our own sight without seeking the Lord’s direction and help in both the significant and trivial happenings in our lives. For He is able to do infinitely more on our behalf than we could ask or even imagine, and the extraordinary good news is that He is willing to help us; more than willing, He is overjoyed to help us.[4] Consider the tender insight into Jesus’ heart of compassion for His people found in Mark. When the leper fell before Him saying, “If You are willing, You can make me clean,” Jesus responded, “I am willing; be cleansed.”[5]
Do our prayers to the Lord not move Him to compassion for
us? They do. Will He not help us? He will.[6]
[1] 2 Chronicles 20:6
[2] 1 Peter 5:7
[3] Isaiah 41:18
[4] Ephesians 3:20
[5] Mark 1:40-41
[6] Micah 7:18-19 Matthew 7:7-11
