Abide With Me

 "The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those crushed in spirit." Psalm 34: 17, 18

    Nary a day passes before a prayer request alerts me to the dire needs of others. Most every household is tinged by illness, grief and distress. How many of us have urgently called the doctor's office only to get the runaround? Eagerly we await answers from vacationing physicians, beleaguered nurses or harried pharmacists as the raiment of caregiver shrouds the shoulders of worried spouses. One day melts into the next as we wonder what the future holds? The effortless days of our youth seem gone with the wind.

    There is a balm available to anyone who calls on the Lord in truth. The Bible tells us, not just once, but many times over, just how loving and compassionate our Father truly is. He never slumbers nor sleeps, nor does he take vacations. There is no one to whom he goes for advice; he does not bite his nails, trying to figure out a plan of action. "He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them." (Psalm 145:19) 

    While the Apostle Paul was roaming around in Athens, he was distressed to see that the city was full of idols. He even found an altar dedicated to "an unknown god," so he set about to introduce the townspeople to the One they did not know. "The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not dwell in temples built by human hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else...God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. For in him, we live and move and have our being." (Acts 17:24-28, emphasis mine) 

    It's a unique and beautiful thing, this personal relationship with the Living God, who is as close as our own heart, soul and breath. Though illness may keep us from attending church or family gatherings, though medical experts may be too busy for our needs or lacking in wisdom, the God of Heaven abides with us, hears us and delivers us! 

Abide with me! Fast falls the eventide.

The darkness deepens, Lord, with me abide!

When others helpers fail and comforts flee,

Help of the helpless, O abide with me!