How God Helps Us Through During Times of Duress.

People always want to know where is God when I'm in trouble. It's a good question, deserving a good answer. Not that I'm an expert on the subject, although I've certainly seen my own share of troubles and I've also seen God answer the question for me time and again. So if I'm considered an expert at all, or even one with experience, I can only say that my experience and expertise is my own.

Have I heard miraculous stories? Oh sure. Some that I thought were far fetched too...perhaps a bit too miraculous for me. Then again...I've experienced some things that could be called miraculous. It really just depends on one's perspective, and that is the catalyst for what I have to share about this subject.

Just as beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, so is God. Your experience and relationship with God will depend largely on your view of Him. So the real question is...how do you perceive God? Is He real to you? Is He a stranger, acquaintance or friend? Is He the fall guy you run to only when you're in a jam?

Do you spend any time with Him? How about quality time? How much time have you invested? This question is relevant, because in some respects, you need to view God and your relationship with Him the way you might view a bank. You can only get out of it what you put into it.

Your answers to these questions may tell you why you don't recognize God all around you and in your situation, even if you perceive it as troubling. Sometimes God allows situations that appear troubling to us to get our attention.

The mere fact that anyone asks the question, "Where is God when I need Him?" indicates that He's gotten your attention even if only for a moment. Some of us need several moments like that to catch on to the fact that we need to pay a bit more attention to God, and less attention to the images and techie toys that drive society to complete distraction. These are called (mini) gods, and if you find yourself caught up in complete focus on any of them, you are worshipping another god, and not the one true God.

Part of the reason people question God's whereabouts is because they haven't been focused on Him, and don't know that He's always near. He's always there and ready to assist us, but everyone is always looking for that crackerjack box with something sweet and a prize.

If your life hasn't been invested in God, why would you think automatically, that just because you finally decide to give Him a minute or two of your time, you deserve a prize? People think God will wave a magic wand and make all their problems dissolve, as if they are living in a virtual reality.

Sorry to disappoint, but God is not some cosmic magician at our beck and call. He is God, and He is sovereign and deserves to be recognized as such and worshiped as such. I mean think about it. If you had the opportunity to have an audience with the president of this country...how would you act? How much respect would you show? How much would you acknowledge his authority?

Now...amp that up a trillion times, and think about how you might approach God, the creator of the universe to ask for His help? Consider the fact that none of us are deserving or worthy, yet God is merciful, and is ready and willing to accept you if you are sincere, and come with an open willing heart.

You will need to kick your preconceived notions to the curb, because God is a personal, relational being and He deals with each of us according to who He created us to be. He knows us intimately, whether we are aware of that or not.

Once you humble yourself to God with a sincere and contrite heart, your answer is already in the works before you even ask. Again, the issue is your own preconceived perceptions as to how things should be worked out. You've got to kick those out, because sometimes God is allowing the old things in your life to be removed, to make way for new and better things.

It's like spring cleaning. You can't have space for the blessings God wants to bestow upon you, if your house is full of the baggage and garbage from your previous life without Him. Something's gotta give, and if you really want to see a change, you have to let go and trust, and let God. That is the key.

Stop trying to figure everything out. You do not have the aerial viewpoint God has, to be able to see all the variables, and all the particulars of the situation; nor can you see how many other people are involved and potentially affected. There is a reason for everything that happens in this life, and part of trusting God is to be ok with not knowing or understanding all the reasons why. Sometimes, you just have to kick back and say, "I'm not worried about it, cause God's got my back."

This may necessitate a lot of time on your knees asking for courage to deal, but ultimately, you'll find that with God, you are far stronger than you ever imagined possible, in the face of things you never imagined you could handle.

So have faith. Things are not as bad as they seem. Cling to God and you can rest assured that He will always be there, no matter what you may face, and He will help you to get through it. What becomes of you is that on the other side of the trial; you are a much stronger, self assured person, because you will know with no uncertainty, who's really got your back, and who you can really count on in this life. Peace.