Tomorrow our Wheels for the World team leaves for India loaded down with Bibles, disability ministry training materials for churches, and of course, hundreds of wheelchairs. We are going to be reaching out to a whole lot of disabled people tucked away in back bedrooms in small rural villages… people lying in bed and feeling pretty hopeless. I tell you…
Nothing is more suffocating, more soul-stifling than the feeling of hopelessness. And you don’t even live in India… you can understand! When you’ve tried every option, it’s despairing to think that you’ve come to the end of your rope with no aid in sight. Hopelessness breeds when we fail to sense God's hand in the hardship, or the presence of His help. It’s demoralizing to feel as though God is off somewhere, distracted by the needs of more obedient saints.
But you know what? True hope, genuine hope, is built on fact. And the fact is God never becomes distracted from your life. He never takes time off from tending to your needs. When troubles come, He doesn’t back away to allow Satan a free hand. Listen to Psalm 46:1. It states it as a fact: “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” This marvelous verse assures that not only is the help of God available and accessible at all times, but God Himself is the always-present help in every trial.
Dr. Paul Tripp has written, “God understands the darkness that we face. He is right there in it with us, ‘an ever-present help in trouble.’ The Lord of light is your friend in darkness. The Lord of life stands beside you in death. The Lord of hope is your companion in your despair. The Prince of Peace supports you when no peace can be found. The God of all comfort waits faithfully near you. The Source of all joy is close by when death has robbed you of joy.”
When we’ve hit rock-bottom or are up against a wall, we are easy prey for the lies of the adversary. When we are emotionally distraught, we believe the lie that God has become a casual observer, standing at an arms-length distance from our pain. Think often today and ponder Psalm 46:1. And remember that marvelous adjective describing God – He is there, He is with you, and He is always present with help and hope.
I trust you’ll pass on this encouraging thought to a friend today – and our Wheels for the World team will be doing the same all over India for the next two weeks, so pray for hope – the hope of Christ – to overflow in the hearts of those who really need God's help! And as you do, don’t forget – Jesus is ever-present, always right in the middle of things… He is your always-present help in trouble!
Used by permission of
JONI AND FRIENDS
P.O. Box 3333
Agoura Hills, CA 93176
© Joni and Friends