"HOPE TRHOUGH SCRIPTURE FOR THOSE WHO ARE IN TIMES DISTRESS"
The word distress, means narrow, tight,
straits, foe, sorrow, that kind of thing. It's also used sometimes to
speak of when we feel like we are falling apart. Below are two
Scriptures to help in times of distress.
Isaiah 25:4 For You have been a strength
to the poor, A strength to the needy in his distress, A refuge from the
storm, A shade from the heat;
Ps 18:6 In my distress I called upon the
LORD, And cried out to my God; He heard my voice from His temple, And
my cry came before Him, even to His ears.
Eph 1:11 In Him also we have obtained an
inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who
works all things according to the counsel of His will,
Ro 8:28* And we know that all things
work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the
called according to His purpose.
Some explanatory thoughts:
1. When we are in times of distress, God
will be our strength, and He will be a refuge from the storm. A shade
from the heat. Strength, means, fortress, rock, harbor, protection. And,
refuge, means, shelter, from rain, or from danger, or from falsehood.
2. We can call upon, and cry out to God
in times of distress. Ps 18:6. God will hear our voice, and our cry
actually comes before Him, even to his ears. Ps 18:6 Heard, or hear,
means, to listen, to regard, to listen with interest.
3. It's comforting to remember, that not
only has God saved us, but He has also predestined our lives, according
to His own purposes. He is actually working all of things in our lives,
according to the counsel of His own will. He is in control, even when
we "Feel" like, things are out of control. The truth is, they are not.
God is in control.
4. Lastly, and this is a familiar, and
always so comforting Scripture, to be reminded, that Not only, does God
hear us, and is in control, but, He in His wisdom is working all the
things that ( seem out of control, that we feel are out of control, that
are part of our distress) He is working these things together for our
good. J. B. Phillips translation, says is this way, "Moreover, we know
that to those who love God, who are called according to His plan,
everything that happens fits into a pattern for good.
A prayer:
Lord, You are more things then we can
count to us, and for us, and in us, during our times of distress. For
this we say "Thank You" And, amazing as it is, we have access to You, we
can come before You and find help from You in these times. You
personally Lord, are more familiar with distress, then we can possibly
imagine. You know all about our personal distress, and the distress of
all others. And, You are able to be to each one what we have seen in
these verses. Lord, lead us this day to seek You, hour by hour, for we
truly need You hour by hour. Minute by minute it seems sometimes, second
by second.
Thank You for always being with us to help us.
In Jesus name.
Pastor Bob Grenier
