Can We Be a Very Present Help to Others?

Psalm 46:1

One of my favorite songs is “Made Me Glad” performed by Darlene Zschech and Hillsong Worship. (Here is the link if you want to check it out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjPAE854CEw)

That last line - My very present help in time of need - has always caught my attention, but I had not taken the time to search out it’s meaning - until today! It seems to be pretty self-explanatory, doesn’t it? And it is, but not to the depths of explanation after researching the meanings of these words. Let me show you! I used the scriptural line: a very present help in trouble. The 3 words I focused on are very, present, and help. The definitions are from Strong’s Concordance and Webster’s Dictionary.

Very - meaning true, actual, real, being exactly as stated; exactly suitable or necessary

Today’s translation - God is a true help; a real help; exactly suitable for any situation. You can absolutely count on God. He will not let you down. He is the real deal!

Scripture - Psalms 9:10 And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.

Present - meaning existing or in progress; being in view or at hand; immediate; to come forth; to occur

Today’s translation - He will be/is with you. He is already present/dwelling inside of you once you accept Him. There is no delay in His presence. You won’t get a busy signal when you call to Him. You won’t be “put off” or “put on hold” when you yell to Him for help.

Scripture - Hebrews 13:5 for he (God) hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

Help - aid, assistance; helping; surround; protect

Today’s Translation - God is going to take care of this thing, whether it be illness, finances, domestic violence, loneliness, feeling unneeded or unnoticed. He will fight your battles for you. Stop worrying so much and start praising Him!

Scripture - 2 Chronicles 20:15 And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the Lord unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's.

Exodus 14:14 The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.

God is real; God is here; and God will help us. Knowing this, can we be of help to others just as God is a help to us?

A dear friend sent me a devotional by Margaret Feinberg from her book, Taste and See. She seems to answer that question:

“The death of Jesus Christ revolutionized history because it ushers in one of the “sweeping historical revolution(s) in the world, namely, the emergence of empathy for victims.” With a definitive word, God declared that He would always stand beside and work on behalf of the diseased and dying, the hurting and suffering. And this revolutionizes how we understand the call to be Christlike.

God’s ultimate rescue plan is one that He instituted for us and one He wants to institute through us. Just as Christ’s sacrifice exhibited both empathy and action, so too Christ calls us to lay down our lives for others in empathy and action. To enter into the pain of others and begin addressing it and alleviating it.”

YES, WE CAN AND WE ARE BEING A VERY PRESENT HELP TO OTHERS! Let us continue to walk this walk of faith and sacrifice as we “lay down our lives in empathy and action” to address and alleviate.

Don’t be overwhelmed by how to do this for so many others; don’t be concerned that you aren’t doing enough; don’t underestimate the incredible value of a smile, a “hello”, a touch on the arm, fresh baked bread, a meal, a time to sit and chat and maybe even cry together.

These are a few of the ways we help others, and these are some of the ways others help us. As the body of Christ, we are to help each other and support each other - to be that very present help in trouble just as Christ is for us!

Amen!

Thanks for stopping by,

Rachel