Gospel Tract #23

Saving Strength

by George C. Clark

"The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open to their cry."
Psalm 34:15

God has not promised to deliver those who merely fret and worry but those who cry unto Him in their troubles. Are you burdened right now? Do you feel forsaken by those whom you hold dear and love most? Are you in need of encouragement and kindness? Has confusion and discord robbed you of your spiritual strength? Are you tired and so unhappy that you think death might be your only way out? If so, why don't you surrender your problem to the Lord? Thousands upon thousands have been drawn near the gates of death, just as you are; yet, "they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and He saved them out of their distresses. . . He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions." Yes, "the righteous cry, and the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles." Listen to the words of the Savior, "Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you."

Never Alone

No child of God ever suffers alone. Those who think so become infected with bitterness, "and thereby many be defiled" (Heb. 12:15). Did you know that God actually suffers with His children? He suffered with ancient Israel, as the prophet said, "In all their affliction, He was afflicted." God is love, and love is compelled to suffer in the troubles of those who are beloved. It is a great consolation to know that we have a Savior who is "touched with the feelings of our infirmities and who was in every way tempted as we are, yet without sin." Let us, then, approach him with courage and receive mercy and strength in times of trouble. Think of the promise of our Lord, "I will never leave you, nor forsake you."

We are also told that "He will deliver you in six troubles. Yes, in seven there shall no evil touch you. In famine, He will redeem you from death, and in war from the power of the sword. You will be hidden from the scourge of the tongue. Neither will you be afraid of destruction when it comes. At destruction and famine you will laugh. Neither will you be afraid of the beasts of the earth" (Job 5:19- 22). Don't wallow in the mire of your problem! "Gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ."

Jonah was delivered from the whale's belly only after he poured out his heart to God. Jonah later testified, "I cried by reason of my affliction unto the Lord, and He heard me." Daniel "knelt upon his knees three times a day,and prayed, and gave thanks before his God," and he was kept safe all night in a den of lions. I can hear Daniel now, answering King Darius early the next morning, "O king, live forever! My God has sent His angel and has shut the lions' mouths that they have not hurt me!" God will do what He says He will do. Call on Him right now! He is listening for the cry of the righteous.

The Cry of the Righteous

We know that "many are the afflictions of the righteous," but it is also true that "the Lord delivers him out of them all." May God help you, my burdened friend, to "cast all your care upon Him, for He cares for you." He offers a shoulder mightier than ours to help carry our burdens. We cannot afford to ignore this precious invitation of Jesus: "Come unto me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Can we not say, along with the righteous of the ages, "In my distress I cried unto the Lord, and He heard me"?

"The Lord is their strength, and He is the saving strength of His anointed. Save your people, and bless your inheritance." (Psalm 28:8,9)

There are many of God's children who are sick, physically and spiritually, and who seem unable to receive their promised healing. But James was speaking to all of God's children when he said, "Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the congregation, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him" (5:14-15). Physical healing by faith in God is available; yet, some among us do not possess this faith. Why? Because of spiritual weakness, of course. But in order to possess this strength, one must come to know Strength Himself.

Moses (Ex. 15:2), David (Ps. 18:1), and Jeremiah (16:19) were among those who looked to God to be their strength in times of trouble. Isaiah spoke for them all when he said, "the Lord Jehovah is my strength." It is by becoming conscious that our only real strength is God Himself that we receive faith for healing. Samuel told Saul, "the Strength of Israel will not lie"; so, we must believe Him when He says, "I am the Lord who heals you."

David, after sinning with Uriah's wife, cried aloud, "My strength fails because of my iniquity" (Ps. 31:10). He felt the separation from God that sin brings! Oh, my dear friend, let us walk holily before God so that He may never have to say of us as He once said of Israel, "I have labored in vain; I have spent my strength for nothing."

Haven't we all, at some point, asked the question that David asked so long ago, "You are the God of my strength. Why do you cast me off? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?" Yet, we must always remember that it is God's will to give us strength to believe for our deliverance. It is God's will to give strength for both body and soul to all believers, and He will do this for all His people who keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight. He wills weakness upon none. Isaiah tells us why we are oppressed by the enemy. He says, "Because you have not been mindful of the Rock of your strength" (17:10). When our minds are drawn away from God and His goodness, it is easy to doubt that He will do what He says He will do. But, oh, how blessed is the man who has learned the precious lesson of daily renewing his strength in the Lord!

Beloved, kneel before God right now and ask Him to renew your strength. This is what you desire. This is what you must do! This is what the righteous have always done when they found themselves growing weak. They did not fear telling God of their doubts; they confessed their weaknesses, and God delivered them out of them all because they put their trust in Him. This is the cry to which God's ear is always open. And burdened saints have always found in His presence "grace to help in time of need."

After being restored in spirit, David sang, "The Lord is my strength and my shield. My heart trusted in Him and I am helped; therefore, my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song I will praise Him." And again, "The Lord is the strength of my life. Of whom shall I be afraid?" Once we are renewed in faith, we find that there arises a deep concern for the children of God, and we find ourselves praying for others as David did when he, in the strength of the Lord, prayed, "Save your people! And bless your inheritance! Feed them also, and lift them up for ever" (Ps. 28:9). Amen!