Walking into Troubles

Have you ever been in need of help? I vividly remember a time from my childhood when I found myself in a precarious situation at the beach. The receding tide had left a pool of water in the middle of the dry sand. The water was warm and enticing, and I wandered away from my family toward the pool. As I ventured further, soon I found myself slipping into the water and drowning. As quickly as I entered the water, I felt a hand pulling me up by my hair. It was my father who reached down and saved me.

He saw me from afar heading for danger and was already on his way before I even needed his help. Little did I know that this experience would later serve as a powerful analogy for the help we all need in life’s challenges. Just as my father saved me from drowning, God is ready to rescue us when we find ourselves in need.

The Cry for Help

The psalmist David, in Psalm 86, beautifully expresses the cry for help in times of distress. He humbly implores, “Incline your ear, O LORD, and answer me; for I am afflicted and needy” (Psalm 86:1, NASB1995). Like David, we often find ourselves in situations where everything seems to be going wrong, and the weight of our troubles becomes overwhelming. It is in these moments that we must remember that God sees us even before we realize we need Him.

God’s Preemptive Rescue

Just as my father saw me walking into the water and took immediate action, God is always aware of our predicaments. Even before we find ourselves in deep waters, He is already working to rescue us. The sacrificial love of Jesus Christ exemplifies this truth. Romans 5:8 reminds us, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us”. Jesus took action to save humanity from the consequences of sin and death even before we were born, offering us the opportunity to be rescued and restored.

Closing the Gap

Our problems stem from a broken relationship with God, but through Jesus, the gap between us and our Creator has been closed. His life, death, and resurrection have paved the way for our salvation. Just as I was a helpless child drowning on dry ground, we too find ourselves in desperate need of rescue. Jesus is ready to save us, having witnessed us walking into our troubles. He extends His hand to pull us out of the depths, offering us a renewed relationship with God and the promise of eternal life.

In times of trouble, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and alone. However, we can find solace in the knowledge that God sees us, even when we don’t realize we need Him. Just as a loving parent rushes to rescue their child, God is already on His way to save us from our troubles. Through the sacrificial love of Jesus Christ, we have the opportunity to be saved, restored, and experience a profound relationship with our Creator. May we remember that we are never alone, and that God’s rescue is always within reach, just as my father’s hand pulled me from the water all those years ago.

Encourage Yourself with these Five Takeaways:

1. God hears our cries for help: “Incline your ear, O LORD, and answer me; for I am afflicted and needy” (Psalm 86:1). We can take comfort in knowing that God hears our pleas for assistance. He is attentive to our cries and is ready to respond.
2. God sees our struggles even before we realize it: “Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking, I will hear” (Isaiah 65:24). Our Heavenly Father is already aware of our troubles before we even call out to Him. He is actively working behind the scenes, preparing our rescue.
3. Jesus provides ultimate salvation: “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Jesus took the initiative to save us from sin and death. His sacrifice offers us the opportunity for eternal salvation and restoration of our relationship with God.
4. We can call out to God for help: “Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know” (Jeremiah 33:3). God invites us to call upon Him, promising to answer and provide insights beyond our understanding. He is eager to intervene in our lives when we reach out to Him.
5. Trust in God’s rescue and embrace faith: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1). When we trust in God’s rescue, we find refuge and strength in Him. We must have faith in His ability to deliver us and embrace the assurance that He is our ever-present help in times of trouble.

In times of distress, let us remember these takeaways and hold onto the promises found in God’s Word. He hears, sees, and responds to our cries for help. Through Jesus, we can find ultimate salvation and restoration. By calling out to Him and trusting in His rescue, we can experience His refuge, strength, and faithfulness in our lives.