I just scanned the headlines to see if anything of note had happened overnight. As you might have guessed, it was a sad experience. Among all those troubling headlines I read this, “As pandemic grinds on,Texas students increasingly feel alone and scared, and some are thinking about suicide”. But that’s not just a Texas problem. Go to any state in the union or any nation on earth and you will find the same.
Here we are just a few days away from Christmas, which some say is the happiest time of the year, and millions are on the brink of despair. But, a few minutes later I read today’s devotion from Spurgeon’s “Faith’s Checkbook” and my attitude was transformed. This was the title – “Immediately Present”. Perhaps reading it will do the same for you – so here it is:
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1)
A help that is not present when we need it is of small value. The anchor which is left at home is of no use to the seaman in the hour of storm; the money which he used to have is of no worth to the debtor when a writ is out against him. Very few earthly helps could be called “very present”: they are usually far in the seeking, far in the using, and farther still when once used. But as for the Lord our God, He is present when we seek Him, present when we need Him, and present when we have already enjoyed His aid.
He is more than “present,” He is very present. More present than the nearest friend can be, for He is in us in our trouble; more present than we are to ourselves, for sometimes we lack presence of mind. He is always present, effectually present, sympathetically present, altogether present. He is present now if this is a gloomy season. Let us rest ourselves upon Him. He is our refuge, let us hide in Him; He is our strength, let us array ourselves with Him; He is our help, let us lean upon Him; He is our very present help, let us repose in Him now. We need not have a moment’s care or an instant’s fear. “The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.”
Meditate on this glorious truth and be assured of a Merry Christmas, regardless of the circumstances. Whatever your need ““God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” – HDS
David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
5801 FM 1960 E
Humble, TX. 77346
