"Too Big For Me, Dad"

Young Timothy was helping his Dad clear a lot next to their home for a garden. Things went well until Tim ran into a large stone that he couldn’t budge. After struggling for a few moments he called to his Dad and said, “Dad, this one is too big for me to handle. What should I do?”

“Well,” said his Dad wanting him to learn a lesson, “what have you tried to do?”

“I’ve pulled on it with both hands,” he said looking down at the stone. “And I’ve tried to pull it with a hoe, too, but that didn’t work either.”

“Sounds like you’ve tried to move it with all the strength that’s within you,” his Dad said patiently.

“Sure have, Dad. There’s nothing else for me to do but up give up on it,” he said with discouragement.

“Give up, son? Why would you give up?” he asked.

“There’s nothing else to I can do,” said Tim.

“Oh, but there is. You can always call on me to help you, Son,” he said with compassion.

Often God allows us to realize how weak we are without Him. We struggle and fail. We try and give up. We worry and become depressed. We think and realize that many things are beyond us. We practice and still make mistakes. We work and still can’t make ends meet.

Then suddenly we realize that God has put a “gap” between us and the solution to our problem. It’s His way of saying, “You can always call on me for help. And when you do, I will answer you and I will be with you and strengthen you!”

Prayer: We thank You, Lord, for being just a “prayer away” whenever we need Your help. We are truly grateful. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Psalm 91:15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him.

Where Do You Go For Help?

“Help me, someone help me! I’ve fallen and can’t get up. Someone help me, please!” cried a lady in obvious pain and distress. Actually, there was no real person calling for help. It was a television commercial advertising personal security systems. It was intended to attract and assure people who were alone that a “system” was available to help them if they couldn’t help themselves.

All of us know that feeling of being helpless, perhaps even hopeless at times. Problems surface, or seem to descend from the sky when we least expect them. We know they are beyond us, recognize our limits and cry out for help. Life’s demands are often more than we can manage by ourselves. They force us to see that we cannot take care of ourselves by ourselves. So, we are forced to reach out and up. There is something inside all of us that tells each of us that life is beyond every one of us. That “something” is a gift from God. He wants us to search for Someone. It begins at birth when we utter that first cry for help not knowing who will respond. And it never ends until we turn to Him.

Most of us have turned to God recognizing His power and strength and desire to help us. That need for Him is normal and natural because He planted it there when He created us. He knew we would search for Him and He also knew that He would respond in love when we call on Him to make us complete in Christ.

David said those who say “there is no God are fools.” Are they dumb or stupid or ignorant? No! They are fools because they choose to live life without God.

Prayer: Thank You, God, for hearing and answering our calls for help. Thank You for meeting our needs. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Psalm 53:1 The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, and their ways are vile; there is no one who does good.

Help When You Need It

There are few things that are more important to us than our safety and security. We depend on rules and regulations for our well-being and protection. We have the police to protect us and the military to guard us. We rely on individuals we have never met to enforce laws and be alert if there is an emergency. Yet, in spite of all of the layers of defense that have been placed around us, the threats of life continue to surround us. We search for a moment of peace in these times of turbulence.

However, as Christians we must always remember that we have a resource that is always available. The Psalmist reminds us that “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” Not only are we reminded that God is our refuge and strength but that He is ever-present!

The word refuge means shelter. When the rains fall and the rivers rise we find a place of security in the arms of God. When days are dark and nights long we have His light to shine around us and keep us from falling. When sickness strikes and illness lingers we have the assurance of His presence and peace.

And His strength – His mighty power – is there as our shield and sword. No one would go into any battle without the proper equipment to protect and defend himself. Here, however, we are reminded that the battle belongs to our God and He will not only fight for us but will protect us from anyone who would hurt or harm us, destroy or defeat us.

And we can take great assurance that His refuge and strength are ever-present. He is with us – not He might be with us – wherever we are. We have no reason to be frightened when the world seems to be closing in on us and the pressures of life are about to overcome us. God: our refuge and strength – here, now.

Prayer: Help us to realize, Lord, Your presence in our lives and involvement in anything and everything that concerns us. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.