the Lord's help

It's always good to have a sense of the Lord's help. This has often happened to me before an unanticipated time when I would be asked to do something in the way of ministry, and just happened again for me.

It does leave one asking though why it is that often that sense of help beforehand is lacking. However at the end of many such times I can look back and sense that the Lord was present even if I did not know it then. Other times I just have to go on by faith, reminded often by my wife that God was indeed in it.

We don't always understand nor do we know exactly what is going on around us, though we can take by faith all that God has promised us in Jesus. We can be assured that God's good work will be completed in and even through us, as we endeavor to truly be both servants and friends of Jesus.

Simple, yet profound and powerful. Beyond us, but given to us in Jesus by the Spirit and in community for the world.

What might you like to share from your own life on this, or any thoughts?

God's help

Yesterday at work I received God's help in a much needed time. I found that it was incremental. First of all I had to get over my fears that my job might be in jeopardy, or more likely move toward that, because of an error -though understandable to some degree under the circumstances and soon caught- I made. Then I had to accept whatever might happen, and see God's good hand and will as involved in it, and in everything, so that I knew God would see me through. At the same time I took action, to do what I could. It was hard, but with the help of another brother we were able to get done what had to be done. I take that as God's strength and help given to me, in answer to prayer, certainly in the midst of great need.

I was reminded of this account in David's life. We do need to encourage ourselves in the Lord, finding our strength and help in him, during those most difficult times and trials.

What would you like to add to this?

when on the brink

There are times in our lives when it seems all is crowding in on us and we're about ready to be thrown over some kind of cliff. Yesterday for a time that seemed to be the case for me. By faith I hung in there, and soon was experiencing the consolation and help of the Lord, and the word was alive on the pages of the psalms, specifically Psalm 139.

Too often during my life I've tried to manage living on the brink. Trying somehow to get myself out of it, but failing in the process to really trust the Lord. I think we need to learn to take baby steps of faith, committing ourselves into the Lord's hands by prayer and by waiting on him. And as we learn to trust the Lord, we can end up both being a witness as people of faith, as well as growing through the trial ourselves. Of course quite often a large part of our trials come from our own struggles (sometimes sinful) within. God permits the difficulties to come so that we can learn to trust him in them and find his salvation in those places. But we must beware of thinking we'll ever be above encountering such trials in this life. Yet at the same time we can be assured that God will make us stronger through them.

What about trials in your life? What do you do when you feel like your on the brink or the edge?