Pleasant Help

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.

Psalm 46:1, NIV

When Kali was a toddler, I was explaining who we go to when we are in trouble. As soon as she began to form words, we began putting God’s Word into our hearts together. Psalm 46:1 became a favorite of mine, but I especially loved her sweet spin on it. Instead of “God is an ever-present help in trouble,” she said, “God is a very pleasant help in trouble.” I think she was on to something there! I cannot think of anyone else I want by my side in trouble more than God Himself, can you?

We all have times of trouble. You may be surrounded by trouble now. I remember being stranded at a small country filling station. (That is a gas station, for some of you sweet ones who are younger than I am!) Mark was overseas. I was hours away from our home, traveling to my widowed mother’s home with Kali, who was nine at the time. There was not a car rental place in sight, and the little motel nearby looked deserted and scary. We were hours away from our destination.

A young man getting food for his wife and nursing baby asked me if I was having car trouble. Once he and the owner of the station looked at the car and spotted the trouble, it became obvious it wasn’t going to be a quick fix. Kali and I were not going anywhere. The kind young man offered to take us to the nearest airport to rent a car.

Now before you jump to all kinds of conclusions, be assured that I knew God saw my trouble. I knew God cared about my daughter and me. I knew God knew my husband was unreachable. I remembered Psalm 46:1, and I trusted the still small voice in my heart that said, “It’s okay. This man’s help is My provision.” Because I saw the man’s loving care for his family, I experienced God’s peace that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7). I would never want to put my precious child in danger, but I was uncomfortable staying in a place where others knew we were physically alone and stranded. So we loaded our stuff into the young family’s car, rode to the airport, rented a car, and arrived home safe and sound.

God is an ever-present help in the very trouble you’re facing now. Ask Him for His provision and for peace that passes all understanding. God is a Good Shepherd and His sheep hear His voice above all others.