Do you ever feel like God isn’t there or that He’s oblivious to what’s happening in your life? Or maybe you feel like He has more important things to worry about than to pay attention to little-old-you and your dreams, desires, concerns and fears. After all, God has enough on His plate to worry about managing the entire universe.
Even though we may feel this way at times in our lives, nothing could be further from the truth. God loves you. He calls you the Apple of His Eye. He’s imprinted your name on the palms of His hands (Isaiah 49:16) and He rejoices over you with singing (Zephaniah 3:17). He is ever attentive to your needs and is closely watching all that is happening with you. He cares deeply for you!
The Bible says, “The Lord said, ‘I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey…’” (Exodus 3:7-10 NIV).
God was carefully looking after His people, much like a father or mother rearing a child, and saw the in justices done to them. It actually bothered Him. So much so, that He raised up a Deliverer, Moses, to rescue them and lead them into a land flowing with abundance. And just as God payed close attention to His people back in Biblical times, He cares for you and is ever ready to answer you and help you in your time of need. The Bible says, “Jesus Christ (God) is the same yesterday, today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8 NLT). In other words, He is the same God, doing the same things today that He did back then. His desire to help His people hasn’t changed. He is faithful and can be trusted.
When we seek God and pray to Him, He will reveal Himself to us and show us things we need to know to help us in our time of need. The Word of God says, “This is what the Lord says, He who made the earth, the Lord who formed it and established it—the Lord is his name: ‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know’” (Jeremiah 33:2-3 (NIV).
God alone has all the answers to life’s challenges and problems. He knows the end from the beginning. And the cool thing is, as Believers in Jesus Christ, God lives inside of us through His Holy Spirit. He, not only wants us to know He is with us, but He actually wants to encourage us and guide us toward our God-given destinies.
For the past 6 months or more, I’ve had a friend of mine going through a rough season. He has been struggling financially, living paycheck to paycheck and working at a job he’s not passionate about. And if that isn’t enough, he’s facing a serious health issue that makes matters worse. God has put big dreams in his heart for ministry, yet, doors just don’t seem to be opening at this time. Day after day, month after month, he’s faced more of the same. And to top it all off, God seems distant, really distant.
Have you been there?
Well, in a moment of frustration and weakness, my buddy started complaining to God. “Why am I going through this, God? I’m always encouraging other people. I’m down today. Why can’t someone encourage me like my friend, Cory, when I’m feeling down in the dumps of despair? After all, doesn’t he walk with You and listen to your Holy Spirit?” On and on he poured out his frustrations to God.
This is where the story gets good. Less than an hour later, God being the amazing God that He is, heard my buddy’s prayer and decided to act by stirring my heart to text him these words of encouragement: “Lord, be with my friend today. Help him sense your power, pleasure and acceptance. Help him see you at work by faith until You bring to pass every dream and desire You put in him. Help him to stretch further than what he thinks he can do on his own because You are with him. May he continue to grow stronger and more resilient than ever and may he see Your goodness and may the world see Your goodness through him. May he step further into his God-given destiny than ever before. And may he be a testimony to many. Lord, help him not give up or quit. Help him to have a holy resolve to trust You despite the natural facts. You are a supernatural God who parts Red Seas, Jordan Rivers and opens wide the earth to swallow enemies. You raise the dead, heal the sick and open blind eyes. You create worlds through Your spoken word and You lavish Your unfailing love upon those who trust in You. We declare, Lord, that we trust You and believe Your Word and promises despite what the naysayers, enemies and our own minds tell us. In Jesus mighty name, amen!”
He was so shocked that this text came through after he had just got done pouring his heart out to God regarding his circumstances and feeling overwhelmed and alone. In this moment, he knew that God heard his prayer and knew that everything was going to be okay. This experience gave my brother a new sense of confidence that God was in control and that God heard his prayer, even in his weakness.
God cared so much for my friend and his situation that He stirred my heart to send him an encouraging text message so he would realize that not only did God care, but He is a God who answers prayer. Today, my buddy knows more than ever that God is an Ever-Present-Help in time of need. God is his Comforter and Encourager. And God hears even his faintest prayers.
And the same is true for you. God is ever present in your trial and storm. He has not forgotten about you! He will let you know He is near. Call out to Him…pray. The prayers of a righteous man or woman accomplishes much. After you have done what you know to do, sit back and be patient. Watch God answer you in His perfect timing. God knows what you are going through and He cares for you!
Questions to think about:
1. Have you ever had a time in your life when a trial or storm caused you to look through a lens of discouragement and distrust in God? If so, what did you do or what can you do to overcome these feelings?
2. Why is knowing the truth of God’s Word and His promises important to know when facing trials or difficult circumstances?
3. When facing storms in the future, how can knowing truth from God’s Word help you stand firm despite what your feelings may be tell you?
4. Do you believe God cares about you and what you are going through? If not, what steps can you take to believe this truth from God’s word?
