The Spiritual Journey 2024 - Day 29: There is Hope at the end of your rope.

“The Lord preserves the simple; I was brought low, and He saved me.“

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭116‬:‭6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

You are probably aware of the “Proverbs 31” woman. What you may not realize is that all of chapter 31 of Proverbs is the advice given to King Lemuel by his mother. [We don’t really know who this “King Lemuel” was. Some say it was actually Solomon. Others say it was Hezekiah. But whoever he was, he had a very wise mother.]

Before the description of the “virtuous woman,” his mother offers some other very important advice:

“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed. Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice.“

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭31‬:‭8‬-‭9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Not only was this good advice for one who would be a good king, it is actually what God requires of all those in positions of power.

You see, God is Himself One Who makes a practice of lifting up the lowly, mightily using the discounted, and advancing the marginalized.

“A father of the fatherless and a judge and protector of the widows is God in His holy habitation. God places the solitary in families and gives the desolate a home in which to dwell; He leads the prisoners out to prosperity; but the rebellious dwell in a parched land.“

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭68‬:‭5‬-‭6‬ ‭AMPC‬‬

“He raises the poor out of the dust, And lifts the needy out of the ash heap, That He may seat him with princes— With the princes of His people.“

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭113‬:‭7‬-‭8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Indeed, the Lord strengthens the weak and helps them soar above their adversity.

“O Jacob, how can you say the Lord does not see your troubles? O Israel, how can you say God ignores your rights? Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.“

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭40‬:‭27‬-‭31‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The apostle Paul pointed out that God makes a habit of mightily using those who are despised by their peers.

“For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence. But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption— that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.””

I Corinthians‬ ‭1‬:‭26‬-‭31‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Now, we all know what it feels like to find ourselves out of options. We know how it feels to try to find comfort “between a rock and a hard place.” Oh how wonderful it is to know that when we get to the end of ourselves, the Lord is ready and willing to help. As a matter of fact, the Lord will not help those who are not yet aware of their own poverty.

“In the same way, you who are younger must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you, dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.“

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭5‬:‭5‬-‭7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Sadly, some people must face a crisis that robs all their resources, exhausts all their options, and leaves them desolate, before they will humble themselves before the Lord.

But, whether you are humbled by your circumstances, or you willingly humble yourself, the Lord will respond to your cry for help.

In our opening scripture we see the psalmist has been brought low by circumstances. But when he called to the Lord for relief, the Lord heard and answered.

In part of my spiritual journey I found myself with no one to rescue me. But, the Lord strengthened me to be able to overcome hell’s minions without the intervention of anybody else, except for Him.

Child of God, if you have found yourself at the end of your rope, please know that the Lord will help you! It’s Who He is. He is the Hope at the end of your rope!

Peace to you.

Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!

#thespiritualjourney2024