December 30, 1903

Help in Every Time of Need

EGW

It is for our present happiness and future good that God subjects us to trial. The greatest blessing that His wayward children have is the correction that He sends them. When called to pass through trials, we may know that thus God is striving to lead us to know Him and to place our trust in Him.ST December 30, 1903, par. 1

Your way may seem very dark. Your friends may seem to have forsaken you, and circumstances may seem to be against you. Hereditary tendencies to wrong strive for the mastery, and you are ready to sink down in discouragement. But you are not forsaken. The Lord God of Israel is looking upon you with compassion and sympathy. His thoughts toward you are thoughts of good, and not of evil. He sees the forces arrayed against you, and He sends you the message, “Let him take hold of My strength, that he may make peace with Me; and he shall make peace with Me.”ST December 30, 1903, par. 2

Do not depend on human help. Why turn from the One who is all-powerful, to ask help of finite, human beings? Why not make God your counselor, saying, “Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life.” Have we not acted discourteously toward the One to whom we owe all that we have? Let us no longer turn from the light that lighteth every man to the uncertain wisdom of those who have no power save that which they receive from God.ST December 30, 1903, par. 3

Our Saviour is not lying in Joseph's new tomb. Over the rent sepulcher He has proclaimed, “I am the resurrection and the life,” He has withdrawn from human sight into the immediate presence of God. There He is making intercession for those who by faith come to God. He presents them to the Father, saying, “By the marks of the nails in My hands, I claim pardon for them. I have made an atonement for them.”ST December 30, 1903, par. 4

Then do not take your sorrows and difficulties to man. When you need help, go to Him to whom has been given “all power in heaven and in earth.” In your weakness and unworthiness come to Christ, saying, “Lord, save, or I perish.” From Him you can learn the manifold wisdom of God, wisdom more precious than words can tell. You may gather strength from Jesus; for in Him all fulness dwells.ST December 30, 1903, par. 5

God sees and tenderly sympathizes with those who are tempted. He hears the voice of supplication and distress. Not a groan, not a sigh, not a tear, escapes His notice. Did not Christ come to this world to work out the plan of redemption in man's behalf, to show him how to overcome the temptations of the enemy? Will God, then, withhold from His children anything that will perfect their characters? If He did not love us, this great sacrifice would not have been made.ST December 30, 1903, par. 6

In the darkest hour, let faith pierce the cloud surrounding you; for Christ is behind, and He does all things well. We have a covenant-keeping God, who knows all our necessities, a God who unites with His majesty the gentleness and tenderness of the shepherd. He has pledged Himself to supply all our need. Have faith in Him; for His honor is at stake. He will not alter the thing that has gone out of His mouth. He will fulfil His promise. Absolute power is His, and no obstacle can stand before Him. His understanding is infinite. He can not err. He is never in perplexity in regard to the means that He will employ. He says, “Fear thou not; for I am with thee.... I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.”ST December 30, 1903, par. 7

Bring rejoicing into your experience. When you are depressed, sing to the praise of God. Rejoice in the hope set before you,—the hope of eternal life. Talk faith, even tho you seem to be surrounded with darkness. He would have you pluck and eat the leaves of the tree of life.ST December 30, 1903, par. 8

The Lord Jesus has chosen those who believe in Him to be heirs of God and joint-heirs with Him to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, and that fadeth not away. Let us believe the messages of cheer that He sends us. Let us live lives of hope and trust. Christ has given us the key that unlocks heaven's treasure-house of blessing. He declares, “Whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” Christ promises not only to present our petitions to the Father, and to intercede in our behalf, but to bestow the blessings sought.ST December 30, 1903, par. 9

“Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which can not be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith.”ST December 30, 1903, par. 10

The gift of Christ is our pledge of help in trouble and of victory in conflict. In Christ is the strength of His people; for to Him all power has been given. “He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might He increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall; but they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; they shall walk, and not faint.”ST December 30, 1903, par. 11