Calling Upon God in the Time of Trouble

by HJS

When the going gets tough, people always start thinking about God, wondering if He can make a difference, if He can give them deliverance from their difficulties. 

Genesis tells us that in the second generation from Adam, in the days of Enosh, "Men began to call on the name of the LORD," (Genesis 4:26). And what does that mean? The same thing it does today. When you get to the end of yourself, your heart cries out, "God, help me, I can't handle this myself!" At that moment worship was born. The word that was used means, "to call, or to plead for assistance." There's intensity in the word, too. It comes from the lips of people who need help.

Laying hold of God is not a matter of overcoming His "indifference" to our need but rather overcoming our reluctance to humble ourselves and ask Him to help. God is far more willing to help you than you are to have Him do so. In times of great distress God spoke through Jeremiah and said, "Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know" (Jeremiah 33:3).

There is a limit to human strength. That's where God's sufficiency comes into the picture, where His grace becomes the provision for your need, His strength the solution to your weakness. Take time to search out God's invitation for you to call upon Him. Mark Psalm 50:15 in your Bible. It says, "Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me." Tell God your need. You'll be amazed what happens when you call on His name.

Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me.  PSALM 50:15