Articles
With God, Never Helpless
Having somebody who believes in you is a big help in overcoming your trials. The feeling of significance in somebody else’s eyes empowers us to strive for our best and motivates us to humbly serve the people who support us and believe in us. Certainly, the most reliable “somebody” to have in your corner is God. Even when all earthly friends forsake us, God is a friend who is dependable. “For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the Lord will take me up” (Psalm 27:10). “The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What shall man do to me?” (Hebrews 13:6, Psalm 118:6). One writer adds, “Why does a relationship with God help so many people? I believe the answer is manifold. First, people feel loved and therefore worthy and valuable. Second, religious values and commandments give them direction when they may not ever have been taught morals or about resisting temptations. Temptations, with their immediate gratification, are attractive to people with pain and rage. Third, religious perspective is outward-focused, while victimhood is inward-focused” (Bad Childhood, Good Life, Dr. Laura Schlessinger, pp. 13-14).
God has a way with giving us what we need at various stages of life. For those who believe in their own self-sufficiency, He reminds them they actually have no real power. They are, in reality, quite helpless without HIM. Spending a few minutes reading Job 38-41 every now and then is a healthy habit to get in to. On the other hand, for those who are humble and faithful, God provides constant reminders that they have access to tremendous spiritual resources:
“Grant that Thy bond-servants may speak Thy word with all confidence” (Acts 4:29).
“If God is for us, who is against us?” (Romans 8:31).
“…And what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe” (Ephesians 1:19).
“For whatever is born of God overcomes the world” (1 John 5:4).
“Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4).
We are never powerless in the face of our trials, temptations, oppression, injustice, hardships or betrayals. The Living God who created all things and is in all things is on our side. We have immediate access to Him. “Never fall for the lie that there is nothing you can do. We can do plenty of things: we can pray, spread the gospel, shine the light, spread the salt, reprove, rebuke, and exhort. We can preach the whole counsel of God, we can stand firm in the evil day, we can save ourselves, we can remain steadfast, we can refuse to give up, we can remain holy, we can keep our behavior excellent, we can reach out with compassion, we can keep up the good works, and we can continue to glorify God. Resist the temptation to be controlled by fear” (Mark Dunagan).
