The Lord helped me
by Kathy Matuschka
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I love the Lord, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy (Psalm 116:1).
Read Psalm 116:1–9
This week, we have heard stories of rescue. First, Jesus healed the Syrophoenician woman’s daughter, and then Paul was rescued from death. In just five days of readings (two-and-a-half chapters of Acts), God has used Paul’s nephew, a Roman commander, 470 military personnel, two Roman governors, Paul’s Roman citizenship and Paul’s rhetorical skills to keep him safe from harm.
We have been following the missionary activities of Paul and others for weeks in our daily devotions. It would be interesting to list all the ways God provided for the early church, as recorded in Acts.
It reminds me that I ‘should’ keep a journal and that I ‘should’ organise my journalling well enough so that I can keep looking back to recall what God is teaching me and how God is providing for me each day.
Some people consistently keep journals, but I don’t. I may not be able to recall all the details of my life and the ways God has answered my prayers, but I find that the psalms have their way of reminding me of God’s presence and provision for me throughout my life. Not only do psalms remind us to give thanks to God, but they remind us of our interconnectedness as people. When we recognise our own emotions, thoughts and experiences in the words of the psalms, we notice that the difficulties we experience are not unique. Others have experienced similar things, looked to God for help and known God’s deliverance in times of need.
From the Syrophoenician woman who cried, ‘Lord, help me’, to the Apostle Paul, who followed the Spirit’s lead to Jerusalem, trusting his life and the number of his days to God’s hands (Acts 20:22–24), to you and me, our emotional heights and depths have been described in the Book of Psalms. Furthermore, through Jesus Christ, who lived, died and rose from the dead, there is no trial we can face and nowhere we can go where God is not present and ready to help.
Dear Lord, you are gracious, righteous and full of compassion. You hear my cries for mercy and are ready to protect and save. When things look grim or don’t make sense, help me rest in your care. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Kathy Matuschka and her husband, Mark, live in Brisbane and worship at Our Saviour Lutheran Church, Rochedale. Kathy continues to discern her ministry calling through her employment as a hospital chaplain and voluntary LCANZ activities. This year, she has contributed to the Way Forward Pastoral Care Working Group as a member.
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