Monday, January 27, 2025

Orange Moon Monday, January 27, 2025 "A Very Present Help"

The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe



"A Very Present Help"



     Sometimes you can't kneel low enough, whether in heart or body.


    After a service in a nursing facility yesterday, we met a lady who has just moved in.  As we talked, she extolled the Lord and how good He has been to her throughout her lifetime.  She did so, however, while recounting the physical challenges she has faced since her youth, which greatly affect her to this day.  In no way did she complain about or focus on her sufferings, but rather used them as a context for sharing God's graciousness and kindness to her.  "The Lord has been so good to me, and I don't know why" she testified as my heart felt to its knees in the presence of such grace and faith.  


    "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble" (Psalm 46:1).


     Every born again believer in the Lord Jesus knows the truth of David's affirmation that God dispenses a special portion of His presence in our sorrows, pains, and difficulties.  Some are called to know such grace in ways that challenge them every day of their lives.  Not all vibrantly trust and experience their Lord's "very present help in trouble."  We must respond to Him and receive such special grace in our hours - or in some cases, years and decades - of difficulty.  The dear lady I mentioned has clearly done so, and her testimony speaks volumes and vast libraries that tell of the goodness of her Lord.  


    "Call upon Me in the day of trouble, I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me" (Psalm 50:15).


    Sometimes God delivers us from our troubles.  Sometimes He delivers us in our troubles.  He has clearly called our dear sister to the latter path, which presents far greater challenge - and, far greater glory to the Lord Jesus.  Hearing her testimony beckoned my heart to follow her example regarding any challenge I may face.  However, as the knees of my heart bowed, they did so before the God who is so good, so great, so present, so involved, so willing, so able, and so loving as to reveal joy where it seems it could not be.  "As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing" (II Corinthians 6:10).  He has been that and done for our dear sister, and all glory belongs to Him.  However, a proper place exists to thank this believer for responding to her Lord for so long, and to let her know the blessedness of her example, encouragement, and exhortation to call upon the Lord in the day(s) of trouble.  She has found His deliverance not from, but in her challenges, and most of all, has glorifed Him greatly.  As promised, the Lord Jesus has been present for her in all, or rather, He has been very present.  He ever abides for us all in such grace provided.  May we follow our sister's example of such grace accessed.


"Be careful for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God.  And the peace of God which passeth all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

(Philippians 4:6-7)

"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.  By whom also we have access by faith into this grace where we stand and rejoice in hope of the glory of God."

(Romans 5:1-2)


Weekly Memory Verse

    Call upon Me in the day of trouble, I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me.

(Psalm 50:15)








































7382








 

No comments: