June 26, 2017

DOES GOD REALLY HEAR ME WHEN I ASK FOR HELP?

Psalm 118

Liz Johnson
Monday's Devo

June 26, 2017

Monday's Devo

June 26, 2017

Central Truth

We all face trials and hardships in our lives—Jesus told us we would face trouble in this world (John 16:33)! But the good news is that we have a faithful helper in the Lord. He will not only hear us when we call, He will answer.

Key Verse | Psalm 118:5

Out of my distress I called on the Lord;
the Lord answered me and set me free.
(Psalm 118:5)

Psalm 118

His Steadfast Love Endures Forever

Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
    for his steadfast love endures forever!

Let Israel say,
    “His steadfast love endures forever.”
Let the house of Aaron say,
    “His steadfast love endures forever.”
Let those who fear the LORD say,
    “His steadfast love endures forever.”

Out of my distress I called on the LORD;
    the LORD answered me and set me free.
The LORD is on my side; I will not fear.
    What can man do to me?
The LORD is on my side as my helper;
    I shall look in triumph on those who hate me.

It is better to take refuge in the LORD
    than to trust in man.
It is better to take refuge in the LORD
    than to trust in princes.

10  All nations surrounded me;
    in the name of the LORD I cut them off!
11  They surrounded me, surrounded me on every side;
    in the name of the LORD I cut them off!
12  They surrounded me like bees;
    they went out like a fire among thorns;
    in the name of the LORD I cut them off!
13  I was pushed hard, 1 118:13 Hebrew You (that is, the enemy) pushed me hard so that I was falling,
    but the LORD helped me.

14  The LORD is my strength and my song;
    he has become my salvation.
15  Glad songs of salvation
    are in the tents of the righteous:
“The right hand of the LORD does valiantly,
16      the right hand of the LORD exalts,
    the right hand of the LORD does valiantly!”

17  I shall not die, but I shall live,
    and recount the deeds of the LORD.
18  The LORD has disciplined me severely,
    but he has not given me over to death.

19  Open to me the gates of righteousness,
    that I may enter through them
    and give thanks to the LORD.
20  This is the gate of the LORD;
    the righteous shall enter through it.
21  I thank you that you have answered me
    and have become my salvation.
22  The stone that the builders rejected
    has become the cornerstone. 2 118:22 Hebrew the head of the corner
23  This is the LORD's doing;
    it is marvelous in our eyes.
24  This is the day that the LORD has made;
    let us rejoice and be glad in it.

25  Save us, we pray, O LORD!
    O LORD, we pray, give us success!

26  Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD!
    We bless you from the house of the LORD.
27  The LORD is God,
    and he has made his light to shine upon us.
Bind the festal sacrifice with cords,
    up to the horns of the altar!

28  You are my God, and I will give thanks to you;
    you are my God; I will extol you.
29  Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
    for his steadfast love endures forever!

Footnotes

[1] 118:13 Hebrew You (that is, the enemy) pushed me hard
[2] 118:22 Hebrew the head of the corner

Dive Deeper | Psalm 118

Have you ever felt alone in your fear, pain, or distress? Have you asked any of these questions: Does God really hear me when I ask for help? Does He care about the details of my life? Why is this happening to me? If you’re like me, you have.

We all have seasons in our lives when things are not going according to OUR plan—singleness, job loss, a prodigal child, health crisis, death, infertility, or marital strife. But in Psalm 118, a characteristic of the Lord is highlighted to bring us hope—a helper on our side. We are reminded in verses 5-9 to place our trust in the Lord instead of man. In verse 8, you could substitute for the word man things like "my spouse," "my paycheck," "doctors," "a baby," "happiness," etc.

In walking through infertility, I have heard this message loud and clear. Verse 13 says, "I was pushed hard, so that I was falling, but the Lord helped me." I found that help in a few ways. First, in memorizing truths from God’s Word to combat lies. Second, in community with others who could remind me of the truth I had stored in my heart and mind. Third, in Shiloh, Watermark’s ministry for women struggling with infertility and miscarriage.

The fourth way was the hardest. I found relief in honestly pouring out my heart to the Lord in prayer. I had to learn to be honest with God that I didn’t like His version of the story of my life. It is not what I would have chosen. In Matthew 26:39, Jesus prayed a similar prayer: "My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me . . . ." If the story had ended there, we would have great cause for concern about our salvation. But His prayer didn’t end there. He went on to pray, "nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will."

Oh, that I would pray like Jesus—to put aside my plan and desire God’s instead; to learn how to thank God for the trials; and to see them as more pieces of the ministry pie, chances to love and care for others and comfort the hurting with the comfort I have received (2 Corinthians 1:3-5).

Discussion Questions

1. Are there trials or pain in your life you don't think God can or wants to help you walk through faithfully?

2. What three to five passages can you go to for help combating the lies that God does not care for you?

3. If you are in a community group or other small group, discuss how you can be praying for one another to trust God to help in times of distress.

4. If you are in the middle of a trial, spend some time in prayer honestly sharing your heart with God. Confess areas in which you are struggling to trust Him.