There is Help in God

THE Lord of hosts is the present help of those who put their trust in him. The arm of man is too feeble to help us in trouble, even when he is disposed to do his utmost for us. These therefore do greatly err who put their trust even in princes. And why should we ever commit an error of this kind? Has not God invited us to trust in him? And has he not warned us not to trust in the arm of flesh?

God knows our sorrows as man cannot know them, To him all hearts are open. He knows our temptations, he understands our errors and faults. He is able to succor in the hour of our extremity, and he has promised to do it. There is no arm like his. If he is for us, he is more than all that can be against us. There is but one thing that will prevent him from extending help to us, and that is sin. And even sin cannot hinder God from helping us, if we will truly repent of it. But true repentance always involves a change of conduct. We must leave off our transgressions and turn from them to a course of true obedience.

Now God does not deny his mercy and his favor to penitent sinners. These are the very persons who may trust in him. All his promises are made to this class. We must not forget this fact, for it is of priceless value. God does not reject us because we have sinned, but because we refuse to put away our sins by repentance. If we could keep this fact before our minds, it would be a constant strength and support to us. We could then take hold of God's arm for help, and we should never be disappointed in the result. But we have an adversary who knows how to thwart our efforts in the great struggle for eternal life. He puts forth his utmost effort in every way to lead us into sin, and if he succeeds to any extent in his temptation, he then becomes our accuser that he may cause us to distrust God's mercy, and to neglect to come to him for pardon and for salvation. This is a most cruel temptation, and its effect in paralyzing our strength is great.

But we need not be thus thwarted in our efforts to seek God. When we seek him with all our hearts, he promises to receive us. It is our duty to believe that he is as good as his word. "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon." Isa. 55:7. These are exceedingly precious words, and they were written on purpose that our faith may take hold on them. God is infinitely and supremely good. It is our privilege to trust him when every earthly refuge has failed us.