Transcript
When you're going through trouble, it's very typical to set your heart on just getting out. "Somehow, someway, get me out of this. God, if You love me, get me out of this." We pray what I call vacuum prayers. It's, "God, just reach down, suck me out of this situation, and drop me somewhere else." It's, "Dear Jesus, in Your name, amen." And here's the shocking reality of the Bible that help is not found first in changes of situation, in changes of relationship, in changes of location.
When You Cannot Change Your Situation
Sometimes, I have no ability to change my location. Sometimes, I have no ability to change my situation. Sometimes, I have no ability to get myself out of a relationship. Oh, those changes are not in themselves evil, but help is deeper than that. I love what it says in Psalm 121. "1I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come?" Oh, I love this. "2My help comes from the Lord [and then I love what he says] who made heaven and earth."
Here's what you need to understand. Help is a person and His name is the Lord Almighty. Help is not a change of situation first, help is not a change of location, help is not a change in relationship. Help is a person and this person is the Lord of heaven and earth. He not only created earth, but He holds it together by His power. He not only holds the world together by His power, but He's sovereign over every situation or every location, every circumstance.
Listen, it's impossible for you to ever be in a situation that isn't carefully ruled by your Savior. It's impossible for you to be ever be in a location that isn't carefully ruled by your Savior. It's impossible for you to ever be in a relationship that isn't carefully ruled by your Savior. Your life is not out of control. It may be out of your control, but it's not out of His control.
The Lord Rules for the Sake of His Church
And if that were not enough, the New Testament tells us [this is Ephesians 1] that He, the Lord, rules over all things for the sake of His body, the church. Not only is my Savior in careful rulership of every situation, every location in my life, but He's doing that for my benefit.
Now, hear what I'm about to say. Read my lips. That doesn't mean trouble will be easy. It doesn't mean that there will not be mystery in your life. It does not mean that you will not be confused, but know this. Help has been given to you because the One who rules everything that would bother you, everything that would confuse you, everything that would make you sad, that One who rules it all has come and made you the place where He dwells. He is always with you and He rules what you could never rule. He controls what you could never control and He is the ultimate definition of what is wise, what is good, what is holy, what is just, what is merciful, and what is loving.
Help is a person. How about in your trouble, instead of running away from Him, run to Him. The psalmist says, "I'll lift up my eyes to where my help comes." My help comes from one place and one place alone: the Lord and He is with me, He is in me, He is for me; and in that, there's hope.
