#god's help

Psalm 46:1 NLT 1 God is our refuge and strength,     always ready to help in times of trouble.

Matthew 11:28 NLT 28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.

Psalm 34:17 NLT 17 The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help.     He rescues them from all their troubles.

A Prayer for Help

Of David.

1 Lord, battle with those who battle with me. Fight against those who fight against me. 2 Pick up the shield and armor. Rise up and help me. 3 Lift up your spears, both large and small, against those who chase me. Tell me, “I will save you.”

4 Make those who want to kill me be ashamed and disgraced. Make those who plan to harm me turn back and run away. 5 Make them like chaff blown by the wind. Let the angel of the Lord chase them away. 6 Let their road be dark and slippery as the angel of the Lord chases them. 7 For no reason they spread out their net to trap me. For no reason they dug a pit for me. 8 So let ruin strike them suddenly. Let them be caught in their own nets. Let them fall into the pit and die. 9 Then I will rejoice in the Lord. I will be happy when he saves me. 10 Even my bones will say, “Lord, who is like you? You save the weak from the strong. You save the weak and poor from robbers.”

11 Men without mercy stand up to testify. They ask me things I do not know. 12 They repay me with evil for the good I have done. They make me very sad. 13 Yet when they were sick, I put on rough cloth to show my sadness. I showed my sorrow by going without food. But my prayers were not answered. 14 I acted as if they were my friends or brothers. I bowed in sadness as if I were crying for my mother. 15 But when I was in trouble, they gathered and laughed. They gathered to attack before I knew it. They insulted me without stopping. 16 They made fun of me and were cruel to me. They ground their teeth at me in anger.

17 Lord, how long will you watch this happen? Save my life from their attacks. Save me from these people who are like lions. 18 I will praise you in the great meeting. I will praise you among crowds of people. 19 Do not let my enemies laugh at me. They hate me for no reason. Do not let them make fun of me. They have no reason to hate me. 20 Their words are not friendly. They think up lies about peace-loving people. 21 They speak against me. They say, “Aha! We saw what you did!”

22 Lord, you have been watching. Do not keep quiet. Lord, do not leave me alone. 23 Wake up! Come and defend me! My God and Lord, fight for me! 24 Lord my God, defend me with your justice. Don’t let them laugh at me. 25 Don’t let them think, “Aha! We got what we wanted!” Don’t let them say, “We destroyed him.” 26 Let them be ashamed and embarrassed. They were happy when I hurt. Cover them with shame and disgrace. They thought they were better than I was. 27 May my friends sing and shout for joy. May they always say, “Praise the greatness of the Lord. He loves to see his servants do well.” 28 I will tell of your goodness. I will praise you every day. — Psalm 35 | International Children’s Bible (ICB) The Holy Bible, International Children’s Bible® Copyright© 1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Thomas Nelson. Cross References: Genesis 30:6; Exodus 3:7; Exodus 15:11; Exodus 23:1; 1 Samuel 24:15; Job 16:10; Job 21:18; Job 30:25; Psalm 3:8; Psalm 7:6; Psalm 9:5; Psalm 13:1; Psalm 22:13; Psalm 22:22; Psalm 38:12; Psalm 44:26; Psalm 55:21; Psalm 56:1; psalm 71:8; Psalm 73:18; Psalm 109:29; Psalm 147:11; Matthew 8:12; Matthew 10:13; Luke 1:47; John 10:32; John 15:25; 1 Thessalonians 5:3

rough waters lapping my feet.

Yes I am afraid.

I cry out and find His hand

stronger than the perceived threat.

.

OKAY, GOOD. It's scary, but I took a chance and posted something.

“All things work together for good to them that love God.” - Romans 8:28.

It’s a source of comfort and hope to countless people. It’s one of the most quoted, most loved, verses in the Bible. And it’s also one of the most misunderstood.

Because it’s not about wish fulfillment. It’s not about making poor choices, or sabotaging yourself, and then imagining that somehow it will all turn out great.

It’s not the magic missing piece from the world’s worst business plan.

              (Phase One: do the thing. Phase Two: ???? Phase Three: profit!!!)

It’s not about pretending that if you’re a good person only good things will happen to you. Bad stuff is going to happen to you and me – that’s life in the fallen world we live in.

If that’s not it, then what is it about?

First, there’s more to it - “All things work together for good to them that love God, who are called according to His purpose.”  

And it means that there is a calling from God, an invitation. As St. John Chrysostom tells us, “The calling was not forced on anyone, nor was it compulsory. Everyone was called, but not everyone responded to the call.”

It means that when you and I respond to God’s call, when we turn towards God? When we have a relationship with God, when we try to follow God’s lead?

God will go to work in our lives, to help us become who He made us to be. Because that’s the “good” that St. Paul is talking about, the good that God made us for.

God will use every part of our lives, the good stuff and the bad stuff. The times we did our best and the times we didn’t. The stuff we brought on ourselves and the stuff that just happened to us.

Sometimes those things hit us hard. And when it does, it can feel like the way it hurts will never end.

The key to all of this, to having God use it for our good – no matter what it is – is to do it with God.

To get over ourselves. To get over having to do it all by ourselves. To invite God into the very heart of what we’re dealing with.

To ask God to do it with us. To ask God to use it for our good.

Even if we don’t see how any good could ever come out of it.

God will use every part of our lives for good – the good of becoming who He made us to be – if we’ll let Him.

We don’t read about Jesus getting angry that often, but what usually got Him upset was when people in need were being kept from the God who could meet their needs. Sadly, it was usually man-made rules and practices that kept people away.