Time plays interesting games with my mind. Some conversations are
forgotten almost immediately, while others seem as fresh as the moment spoken.
Such is the case for a conversation I had with my Uncle nearly 15 years ago. I
shared with him my desire to use my writing talents in a more purposeful way—a
way that would honor my Heavenly Father. His message stays with me today just
as clearly as it was first given. He said people need to hear a message of
hope. People need to know there is a God who is alive and personal; a God who
knows their sorrows and despair and cares deeply for them. The following
scripture selections echo this message.
“The LORD directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the LORD holds them by the hand.” Psalm 37:23-24 (NLT)
“The LORD rescues the godly; he is their fortress in times of trouble.” Psalm 37:39 (NLT)
On one end of the spectrum, I think about God who is Creator of all
things. Science has not yet discovered the true vastness of space, galaxies,
and solar systems. Yet on the other end of the spectrum, God also created the
microscopic and beyond. General scientific knowledge now can measure the
smallest subatomic particles of atoms called quarks. From the unimaginably
great to the infinitesimally small; our wonderful Heavenly Father created it
all!
This is the God, our LORD, of whom the psalmist writes. When we grieve
from the loss of loved ones; when our days linger with loneliness or despair;
when current issues leave us overwhelmed and our path seems unsure; when we
feel abandoned, unloved, or uncared for—there is hope! We serve a God who knows
“every detail” of our lives. He cares deeply for his children. In times of
trouble He stands ready to rescue, to pick us up when we fall, to comfort us
when we despair.
“We put our hope in the LORD. He is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. Let your unfailing love surround us, LORD, for our hope is in you alone.” Psalm 33:20-22 (NLT)
And here is the most amazing thing; this same God, our wonderful
Heavenly Father, is only a prayer away. I am reminded of the hymn written by
Charles O. Farnham (1880-1947) and found in Hymns
of Heritage and Hope, ACGC, 2001.
#575, Thank God I Can Pray
When the world goes wrong, and my heart is sad, thank
God I can go and pray;
It relieves my fears, dries my falling tears, and
gives strength for the rest of the day.
When the task is hard, and my strength is small, thank
God I can go and pray;
How it cheers my heart, when He takes my part, and
gives strength for the rest of the day.
When the flesh is weak, and the tempter strong, thank
God I can go and pray;
Then His Spirit true, always helps me thru, and gives
strength for the rest of the day.
All along the way, with each fleeting day, thank God I
can go and pray;
Till the journey’s run and my work is done, He’ll give
strength till the close of life’s day.
Thank God I can pray, tho’ dark be my way, to Him I
can ever cry,
He will not say me nay when I earnestly pray, but with
help He is always nigh.
Precious Heavenly Father, you know our sorrows and our griefs. You know
what causes our pain. Yet you stand ready to comfort us. Truly You are our
message of Hope. We humbly thank you for your deep abiding love. In Christ’s
name we pray, Amen.
Respectfully written and
submitted by:
Dotty Willmon, Resurrection
Christian
