Is it just me? Is it the wretched condition of the world? Or is it the struggles my loved ones are going through? I’m not sure–I suspect it is all three. Whatever the reason, every time I sit down to write it seems that my mind goes straight to the subject of hardships, difficulties, and suffering. It seems that I can’t help but think about the need for comfort, change, and courage, etc. and I want to help bring it about.
Sometimes I think, maybe I should refrain from dealing with this and move on to other subjects. But, it is hard to ignore such things when they touch so many that you love. Seeing their desperate needs I feel driven to do something. I realize that I don’t have all the answers and I can’t work miracles, but the greatness of their needs motivates me to do what I can–although it never seems enough. There is only so much that I or anyone else can do. Other than pray, which is no small matter, all I can do is show love and share information– the truth of God’s Word. Only God can actually meet the needs, and His exceeding great and precious promises assures us that He can and will. We, however, must appropriate what He makes available. We should never assume that our needs will be supplied if we neglect the appointed means by which they come to us.
If I could say anything to those in need of encouragement it would be this. Regardless of how dark the night, how deep the valley, or how dismissal the outlook, Christ can help, and that is our hope! Change, of some sort, always comes to those who trust and obey the Word of God–if He doesn’t change your circumstances He changes you. If the Bible is true, and it is, there is no problem too great for God to solve. So, as you set sail on another day, I leave you with this thought. It is not always a matter of learning something new, sometimes all we need is a reminder of certain important truths. So I am reminding you that our hope is found in the fact that God has promised to be “our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble”.( Ps. 46:1). The nature of your need, the enormity of your enemy, or the characteristics of your challenge has absolutely nothing to do with God’s ability to meet your need. If you are a child of God in the will of God you have every reason to be hopeful. If your outlook is bleak, rather than bright, your focus is on the wrong thing. There are numerous reasons why this is so.
He who is love has set His affection on you.
He who knows His own is acquainted with all your ways.
He who never sleeps is aware of your situation.
He whose ear is always open is alert to your call.
He who has all power in heaven and earth is able to meet your need.
He whose grace is all sufficient is available anytime.
He who cannot lie has given us absolute assurance.
Knowing we serve such a gracious God should be enough to encourage us during the gravest trials, greatest temptations, and ghastliest troubles. He never fails!
