ATLANTA (BP)–A question every serious person would ask of God would be, “What would God have us to do in times of trouble?” In this present time of rumors of war, when family members are transported across the world, and precious family members are left behind often to struggle with uncertainty and extra responsibilities; and in present very uncertain economic times, often accompanied by hurtful unemployment, what would God have us to do, especially if we are his children? Does a loving God have any clear direction for us?”
David, who faced constant uncertain and troubling times, expresses the heart of God: “Call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will glorify me . . .” (Psalm 50:15). In other words, in times of trouble what does God ask his people to do? Here, through David, God tells us:
1. Call on him
2. And he will deliver us
What an incredible encouragement and assurance to every person who believes him! Are you doing this presently with your life? Are you:
1. Turning exclusively to him?
2. Trusting him completely to “deliver” you?
3. Relying on him to meet all your needs, from “his riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19)?
He has made the provision, now he waits for his children to “glorify him” by calling on him and letting him deliver us out of all our troubles. If we do not call on him in our times of trouble and let him deliver us, we deny him the honor and glory that is rightfully his. A watching world may be looking to God’s people to see if their God is who he says he is, and if his children believe him. The world around us will then see clearly that God has so wonderfully provided for his children.
In times of need, what we do next reveals what we believe about God. I have watched God’s hurting people bring to God in prayer their troubled marriages, and God has brought healing and reconciliation. I have watched wayward children “come home” when parents came to the end of all they knew to do and turned their child over to God. Often parents who have witnessed such homecomings for others’ children have cried out to God for their children too. I have been with businessmen as they brought their “troubles” to God, and God brought them through them, and great joy followed, and God was glorified.
Now is a time, in every area of our lives, including our lives in the marketplace, to bring our “troubles” to God, and wait on him for his provision and deliverance.
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Henry and Richard Blackaby will lead a conference on their new book, “Hearing God’s Voice,” April 10-12 at First Baptist Church, West Palm Beach, Fla. For more information e-mail [email protected]. Additional information about Henry Blackaby Ministries is available on the Web at www.henryblackaby.com. His column appears monthly in Baptist Press.
