He is Our Present Help

“So when Jesus came, He found that he had already been in the tomb four days. Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off; and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary, to console them concerning their brother. Martha therefore, when she heard that Jesus was coming, went to meet Him, but Mary stayed at the house. Martha then said to Jesus, ‘Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. Even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Your brother will rise again.’ Martha said to Him, ‘I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.’ Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?’” John 11:17-26

Few of us are prepared for the worst when it comes. Often tragedy strikes without notice - the sudden death of a loved one, a lay-off at work, or a medical report confirming a terminal illness. These events and many more have the potential to turn our world upside down. How do we handle circumstances that leave us suddenly feeling out of control and frightened?

At the death of her brother, Martha longed for Jesus to return to Bethany. The pain was too great for her to bear alone. She knew He was the Christ, the Son of God; and yet she was torn emotionally by her human feelings. Had Jesus been present when Lazarus became ill, she reasoned, he never would have died.

Faith versus human reasoning - in this case faith won out. Fighting back tears Martha said: “Even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You” (John 11:22). She believed Jesus had complete control over the situation. No matter how upside down her world appeared, Christ’s presence restored order and hope.

God may not completely remove the painfulness of your circumstances. But He will bring order and peace if you will turn to Him. He is our present help in troubled times.

“Jesus is no security against storms, but He is perfect security in storms.” -Annie Johnson Flint