"HOPE TRHOUGH SCRIPTURE FOR THOSE WHO ARE IN TIMES DISTRESS"

"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