Facing Challenges in Life: God Help Us
How do you face challenges in life? I get on my knees and pray, “God help us” because God’s help is always available.
“I lift my eyes to the mountains–where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” ~ Psalms 121: 1-2 NIV
Our dog is aging and starting to suffer from arthritis and issues with her hip. She whines quite a bit in pain, especially late at night. She fixes her eyes on my every move and hobbles to each room I go to during the day.
The one thing that eases this 55-pound dog is to be on my lap in the rocking chair. She loves for me to hold her like a baby because she can fully rest in my arms. It breaks my heart to see our dog going through this season of pain, but we all have challenges to overcome in life.
My current season is not painful, but I am going through a season of needing God’s amazing strength when life gets hard. I am clinging to Philippians 4:13, which says, “I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”
I feel very much like I am with Moses leaving Egypt with the Israelites, and I am crying “God help us.”
In Exodus 14, the Egyptians are pursuing the Israelites to overthrow them on one side. On the other side of them is the Red Sea. It appears as if they are in a lose-lose situation, so Moses cries out to God.
Moses’ answer to the Israelites is beautiful. “Do not be afraid. Stand firm, and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today…The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” ~ Exodus 14:13-14 NIV.
Then, God responds. In Exodus 14:15 NIV, God says to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on.”
It is as if God is saying to me to tighten my bootstraps and keep walking. He knows that I can handle the challenge that I am facing with God’s help.
God Help Us
I asked God what I need to do when I am facing challenges in life and I cry out “God help us”, and his reply seemed to be to face the challenges “the same way your dog handles her pain.”
She fixes her eyes on the one who can comfort her, and she rests in the arms of the one who loves her.
Facing Challenges in Life: Fix Your Eyes on Jesus
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith…” ~ Hebrews 12:1-2 NIV
“Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.” ~ Proverbs 4:25-27 NIV
There are no promises in the Bible that our journeys will be easy, but there are a few guarantees that we will face challenges to overcome in life. Just like God told the Israelites to keep moving forward with their challenge, we must do the same. We must not fear or dread the challenge but face it with an expectant heart that God still parts waters for us to walk on dry ground. It is ok to cry out “God help us” because God’s help is always available.
We never need to face challenges alone or perform at a perfect level. We only need to keep our eyes on Jesus and run to Him in faith. Trust that he will guide us successfully through facing challenges in life.
Facing Challenges in Life: Rest in God’s Arms
“Return to your rest, my soul, for the Lord has been good to you.” ~ Psalms 116:7 NIV
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” ~ Matthew 11:28-30 NIV
“This is what the Lord says: ‘Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls…’” ~ Jeremiah 6:16 NIV
Jeremiah 6:16 references walking a journey much like Hebrews 12:1-2 references running a race with our eyes fixed upon Jesus. You will find rest when you begin the faith journey, much like Abraham, Moses, and David journeyed to pursue God in faith and relationship. Once you enter your faith journey towards intimacy with God through Jesus, you will find rest for your weary soul.
Dear Christian Friend, God’s help is always available when we are facing challenges in life. Take a moment today to pray, “God, please help me through this.” Then spend time in God’s presence so that you may receive His amazing strength. Fix your eyes upon Jesus and receive the gift of rest for your weary soul.
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Check out this article 5 Scriptures for When We Need Rest by my sister in Christ, Patti, from Hope No Matter What for more Biblical information on rest.