Where do we go in times of trouble? Well I don't know about you, but lets see where the Bible says we should go.
PS 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
That's easy said. Do we really believe this? We sure seem to forget it a lot.
Let's see what else it says:
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, 3 though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.
It is basically telling us that no matter what happens, we need to not be scared and hang on to God.
The next verse backs up what we just said:
PS 54:4 Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me.
God does this, that's cool. We need to hang on to this promise.
You say: But I am hurting? I believe in God and know this, but I am still hurting.
Let's see what the Bible says:
2CO 1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles,
This is excellent, God takes care of us. Is this just to help us? Lets read the rest of the verse.
2CO 1:4b......so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.
If you read this and think about it, there is a couple of reasons God comforts us. One to help us and two so we can help others that need comfort. The reason I believe God asks us to comfort others is so we can help them remember what he will do for them.
Everyone pulls together and helps one another. That is how it should be.
But even that is not enough at times. So let's go back to the Bible and see what else it says.
PS 119:49 Remember your word to your servant, for you have given me hope. 50 My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life.
Promises like the one above is what preserves us.
2CO 1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles,
I have to say it again: We have to hang on to these promises otherwise we have a lot harder time to get thru our troubles.
Are there any other promises we can hang on to?
PS 91:1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."
HEB 13:5 …….because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."
HEB 13:6 So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?"
2TH 2:16 May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, 17 encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.
Please re-read the above verse and meditate on them.
So what is our conclusion:
First thing we need to do is this: In times of trouble hang on to Gods promises.
Since that's easier said then done, what is the 2nd thing we need to remember?
1 Th 5:10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
We have to help each other and encourage one another. God is always there for us, but when we forget or when we have a hard time hanging on to it, we need each other.
