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Proverbs 3:5-8 – Trust the Lord completely, and don't depend on your own knowledge. With every step you take, think about what he wants, and he will help you go the right way. Don't trust in your own wisdom, but fear and respect the Lord and stay away from evil. If you do this, it will be like a refreshing drink and medicine for your body. (ERV Easy-to-Read Version)
Perhaps you have heard the story of the person hanging from a cliff waiting to be rescued. He has a vision of God's hand reaching down from heaven and lifting him to safety. So, when a helicopter appears, he sends it away. After he falls to his death, God asks him, "What else could I have done?" A helicopter was not quite what he had envisioned.
I think that may be true for us all. When we get into difficulties, we want to believe that God will help us. We ask, we even beg, trusting that God will come through and rescue us, while at the same time having preconceived ideas about how we want God to do that. Wouldn't we prefer Him to solve all our problems the easiest and most spectacular way? Wouldn't life be much easier if God did all the work, so that we just have to sit back and let Him? It goes without saying that we would like God to do so immediately!
However, God has a plan for us, and God's plans will not be thwarted! That plan frequently includes having us do our part — we have to accept that God-sent helicopter, even though we would much rather that God physically grabbed hold of us and lifted us off that cliff Himself.
If we ask for healing, a miracle would be ideal, but it usually means going to doctors (the helicopter), and doing what they recommend. Even then, we may need to be patient (no pun intended). If we get into debt, God definitely wants us to do our part in getting out of debt. That generally means changing our ways. We cannot really expect to keep doing the same thing while expecting different results.
Often when we face difficulties, whether of our own making or not, there are lessons to be learned, but would we actually learn those lessons if God miraculously bailed us out every time?
Mark 14:36 – "Abba, Father," he said, "everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will." (NIV)
For me, God allowed insecurity, loneliness, and isolation; He allowed mental health issues and addictions; and He allows chronic pain. But I would not have known what they were like, nor would I ever have been able to identify with or reach out to those who are going through similar things themselves, had I not experienced them myself. Back then, I would have preferred that God had spared me these challenges, but while they may have seemed nightmarish at the time, God allowed them, and good came from them. I honestly would not be able to appreciate what I now have, had I not gone through those (and other) life experiences! But most importantly, I learned that I needed God and that He loves me! God did not, does not, and never will abandon me, and for that I will be forever grateful!
Like me, you may struggle with insecurity, loneliness, isolation, or chronic pain, but if God sends a helicopter by way of friends or other means, know that God loves you and understands you. Be willing to obey and to gratefully accept God's helicopters, as He provides all that we need when we need it.
Prayer: O Lord, our Creator, Protector, Provider, and Saviour, thank You for having our best interests at heart. Help us to do our part willingly while You provide Your helicopters to rescue us from our cliff-hangers. Thank You for understanding us so well, while continuing to love us for who we are, no matter how difficult we make it for ourselves. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
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Saturday, May 18, 2024 – In North Africa — Living in North Africa we get so used to hearing the call to prayer it becomes like background noise and sometimes I don't hear it anymore. I am challenged by the fact that some Muslims are so committed to pray that they go to the mosque 5 times a day. Would you consider, with me, setting your alarm to go off at 3:00 every day and pray for these three things: 5 families to come to know Christ, 3 people for us to read scripture with,1 new church plant.
Housing: "Update May 16, 2024: Please continue to pray for T and her son A to find a different apartment...." 
Yes, and Amen!
A great word, Jan.
Kudos Jan. Keep it up.
Thank you so much Jan.
Great devotional. Good words to remember.
Thank you for sharing your story through this devotional.
Take care and may your new year ahead be a good one.
Thank you for a very meaningful devotion. It was a helpful reminder of how much God cares for each of us on an individual basis.
Dear Jan,
That’s a great devotion making us, once again, think about our life and the things we have been able to do because of our past experiences. Thank you.
Dear Jan. Thank you for your message this morning I needed to hear this.
Much appreciated. I think we all need reminders at times, especially when going through difficult periods.
God bless you for sharing your message.
Dear Jan,
Thank you so much. I found today’s reading so uplifting. It was exactly what I needed. You made my day. God is certainly with you.
God Bless!
Hi Jan,
You hit the nail right on the head, as the saying goes: “God helps those who help themselves.” But we need to also listen to God’s word when we are struggling. As Jesus said, “Come to me all you who carry a heavy load, and I will give you rest.”
Blessings.
Thank you for today’s devotion.
I recently had major surgery and I am getting anxious to get back to doing things like I used to.
Today’s message reminded me to listen for God’s time.
I know it will happen and I need to have patience.
Thanks again and blessings.
Dear Jan
Jan, meet your twin sister.
Thank you for your beautiful testimony and wonderful words of praise to our God and Saviour.
I pray He blesses you all the days of your life and forevermore. I know how hard it was and how beautiful it is now as we truly trust in out Lord!
Hi Jan
I always have gone back and forth between asking God to solve our problems and solving them myself.
Until I realized there was a 3rd option.
Often the Holy Spirit tells us what we can do!
So a frequent prayer is for wisdom…
Thanks for sharing and I love that translation!!
Greetings Jan,
Thank you for the devotional submitted this morning. Yes, the Lord sometimes has us face some real challenges in life but when we put our trust in Him, He is ever ready to rescue us and knows what’s best for us. Our problem most times is having the patience for His answer to our prayers. Our own human frailty for sure.
Lord’s blessings upon you,
(B.C.)
Hello
This is so true and, unfortunately, we do expect the ‘rescue’ a certain way and miss the boat sometimes. Thank goodness God is faithful and His will is always done. I keep praying for my husband to quit smoking. Have for many years and yes he still is smoking, he has tried but…. So now I pray that God would help him to realize he has to quit and give him the determination to do so. But usually will end prayer with however You want to do it Lord. Patience yes patience.
Great devotional!
God bless,
(On)
Dear Jan,
Thank you for sharing God’s work in your life with us. You are a living testimony to His faithfulness, and your devotional bears witness to His love, presence and work in the trials of our lives. This morning, our pastor spoke in part on just this, quoting Isaiah 30:20-21: “Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction…” – for the Lord knows that just as we need bread and water to live, so we actually need “adversity” and “affliction” in our lives so we can know His love and purpose for us – just as you have said here. And, if we listen for Him, “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.’ ”
Thank you again for your message to us!
God bless and keep you.
There is so much wisdom in this devotional. Thank you, Jan.
Blessings.
Thank you, Jan, for sharing your thoughts and prayer! Your devotional was beautifully written and although my journey with the Lord may be a little different, all of us experience challenges. But our God is forever faithful and will always bless His children in His way and in His time! May He bless you and your family with His peace and may His light shine on each path that you take! Blessings.
God bless you, Jan, for writing this devotional today. This has been SO similar to what I am going through! God was speaking loud and clear to me. 2 Corinthians 1:3-5
Dear Jan,
Your devotional brought to my memory the verse, “And my God shall meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).
Keep writing.
Jan, thank for you for this important message and for sharing so much of yourself and your journey. God Bless you!