True Help Comes from the Lord, July 16
Daily Reflections from Inside the Cancer Journey
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Written by Tom Corbell
“The Lord is your keeper” (Psalm 121:5a ESV).
“I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber” (Psalm 121:1-3 ESV).
You know there is a big difference between having and keeping. For instance, I might have a favorite sweater. It is my possession. However, I keep my puppy dog. He is not merely a possession; he is my beloved dog. He is dear to me. Therefore, I watch over him—not for my sake, but for his. I protect him from harm because if he suffers, it hurts me, too.
Likewise, God does not merely have us. God keeps us. We are God’s beloved, and immeasurably dear to God. We are not merely possessions in the eyes of the Lord; if we suffer, it hurts God, too. Our verse today is from Psalm 121, which celebrates the fact that the Lord is our beloved keeper.
When cancer touches our lives, we all need to know that Someone much bigger than our diagnosis has our lives in His hands. Like the author of this verse, you may have found yourself lifting your eyes and asking, “From where does my help come?” You may have thought, “It sure would be nice if someone more powerful than cancer could help me out.” Fear not. The Lord God Almighty is here to help you. Since the Lord created the heavens and the Earth, we know that He is a God of power, wisdom, and glory, and when He is with you, you have nothing to fear.
Let’s keep reading today’s verses to see how He is helping. “He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber.” God is so vigilant about helping you that He is there for your every move—ALWAYS. God takes no coffee breaks, no vacation, and even no sleep!
How can you get God’s help? Is there a form to complete or a phone number to call? No. God and his precious Son Jesus are already there, helping you and keeping you. Jesus cares about you. When Jesus saw the crowds, He had compassion on them, because they were like “sheep without a shepherd” (Matthew 9:36 NIV). Jesus, the Good Shepherd, has compassion on you in your journey and will always be “your help” in every stage of your life
Pray: Blessed Lord Jesus, help me to look to You always, for You are my Rock and my salvation. Amen
Your Turn: Take a moment and reflect on the hard times in your life—troubles with finances, family, health, etc. Make a list of where you have seen God help you through these difficulties. Know that He is keeping you and helping you always, whether you see His work or not.
Tom Corbell, Hospice Pastor
Tom is a Lutheran pastor who has served Jesus in both North and South Carolina for forty-nine years. Six of those years he worked as a Hospice Chaplain, and he encountered cancer daily. The privilege of praying, working with and supporting cancer patients and their families is an honor.
Cancer Companion’s vision for the future is for every person impacted by cancer to know the hope, love, and grace of Jesus and that every oncology team has included faith in their treatment toolbox. By 2033, Cancer Companions will provide 5 million engagements through cancer prayers, scriptures and interactions to those impacted by cancer. Engagements include; social media outreach, e-newsletters, prayer team requests, 30 days of Cancer Prayer event, and volunteer connections.
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