One fatal day, Job lost everything – his wealth, children, and even good health.
Job cried out to God by asking some challenging questions. In Job 3:11, he asked: “Why wasn’t I born dead?” In other words, Job questioned why God allowed him to go through such intense suffering.
Can you relate? Perhaps the unthinkable happened to you. You might have been emotionally, physically, or sexually abused as a child. Or, maybe you were betrayed on the deepest level when your spouse had an affair and abandoned you. Now you turn to food, drugs, sex, shopping, alcohol, or another addiction to numb your pain. You’ve prayed for God to heal you by taking away your pain. But He did not automatically fix everything. And now you wonder if He even cares about you.
Five Ways God Helps You
Some people have been miraculously healed from overwhelming circumstances. But for the rest of us, complete healing takes a lifetime. Even though God doesn’t automatically take your difficulties away or instantaneously heal you, here are five ways God does help you!
- Forgiveness —
You can’t earn your forgiveness. It’s a free gift available only through faith in Christ. If you haven’t done so already, begin a relationship with Jesus. First, acknowledge that you have done things that are wrong. Second, ask God to forgive you through Jesus. Because without Jesus’ death on the cross and resurrection, there would be no possibility of forgiveness. Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.” What if you already have a relationship with Christ? Ask the Lord to show you the areas you struggle with. Confess your sin to God, admit you’re powerless to overcome, and seek to make amends. - Freedom —
God is powerful and He is in control. However, He has given you freedom to choose through your free will. You can’t control what happens to you, but you can control how you respond to it. While God doesn’t override your free will, He does allow consequences for your actions. The words of the apostle Paul remind us, “Don’t be misled, you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant” (Galatians 6:7, NLT). Whatever your struggle, there is freedom for you to say ‘yes’ to the right choices and ‘no’ to the bad ones! - Strength —
You are strong, much stronger than you think. Even if you feel weak and unable to overcome temptation, God is always there to give you strength. You’re probably familiar with Philippians 4:13 which says, “For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” Reread it carefully, letting it sink in. Write the verse down. And when you find yourself struggling with an addiction, pull it out and reread it. Then ask the Lord to give you strength to do the next right thing. - The Holy Spirit —
From the moment you put your faith in Christ, the Holy Spirit begins to live inside of you. As God’s spirit lives inside of you, He helps you experience new life by empowering you to live for God. You’ll see positive changes in your life that are the result of the Holy Spirit’s work such as, “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control,” (Galatians 5:22-23). Thank God for His grace, mercy, and power to save and deliver you. - Relationships —
Our supportive relationships are a gift from God! Ecclesiastes 4:12 explains the benefits of healthy relationships: “A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is
not easily broken“. Our friends and family, as well as people we meet along the way in our struggles, are God’s gifts to us in the way they offer support, prayer and encouragement! God shows Himself to us through the people He sends to us in our deepest times of need!
Thank God for these gifts! Begin to look for the ways that God provides for your needs even in the midst of your suffering. He is faithful and will provide exactly what you need at just the right time!