Our very present help
by Ridwin Purba
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
Be merciful to me, Lord, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and body with grief (Psalm 31:9).
The devotions for the coming week are taken from LCA International Mission’s 2021 ’40 Days – a Lenten Devotion and Prayer Guide’ and are written by mission partners around the world. LCA International Mission invites you to pray for God’s global mission and churches beyond our borders. You can download an electronic copy of the ’40 Days’ guide at the LCA International Mission website or request a printed copy by emailing lcaim@lca.org.au or phoning 08 8267 7330.
Almost everybody experiences grief – the death of someone loved, a divorce, a job loss or a significant change in health. At these times, pain can seem unbearable. We feel powerless, helpless, ashamed, guilty, and without hope.
In 2004, I got fired from my job, without knowing the reasons why. I was in pain emotionally, physically and spiritually. It was not easy to find relief from the grief I felt at that time. Family and friends encouraged and supported me, counselling me to open my heart and give God a place there. I tried to open my heart; I prayed and read some texts from the Bible: ‘He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds’ (Psalm 147:3) and Psalm 31:9.
God shows compassion and his love is unfailing. He does not willingly bring affliction or grief to anyone. This is a great truth to remember when you feel tempted to blame God (Lamentations 3:31–33). The Lord is a very present helper. Imagine him taking your grief in his hand and examining it. Next, imagine him becoming your helper. God sees your trouble, and his nature is to help you. You are not alone in your feelings and grief. Many before you – even those with tremendous faith – experienced great sorrow and anguish of heart.
Through his word, God recharges our dim hope. Jesus is the ground for our hope, saving us from our sin through his blood. Hope is ‘confident expectation’ and firm assurance regarding things unclear and unknown (Romans 8:24,25; Hebrews 11:1,7). Hope is a fundamental component of the life of the righteous (Proverbs 23:18). Without hope, life loses its meaning (Lamentations 3:18; Job 7:6) and in death, there is no hope (Isaiah 38:18; Job 17:15). The righteous who trust or put their hope in God will receive help (Psalm 28:7). Hope is an enduring virtue of the Christian life (1 Corinthians 13:13), and love springs from hope (Colossians 1:4,5). Hope produces joy and peace in believers through the power of the Spirit (Romans 12:12; 15:13).
So, hope in the Lord Jesus because he cares for you and shares his life with you now and always.
Prayer: Pray for Ridwin in his support of education within the Lutheran schools in Indonesia and as he encourages the partnerships between Australian Lutheran College and Indonesian Lutheran schools. Pray that believers will have hope that produces joy and peace by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Ridwin Purba is Education Secretary, National Committee of LWF, Indonesia.
- Click here to read previous devotions.
- We are also posting them on LCA Facebook, making it easy for you to share them with family and friends.
- Sign up to receive Daily Devotion in your inbox every morning. If you’re already doing that, please encourage others to sign up. Click here for the link.
