Joel M Bradshaw

1I lift up my eyes to the hills.From where does my help come? 2My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. 3He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber.–Psalm 121

I journey with depression. I face moments of anxiety. I have lived with MS for over half of my life. I have buried three of my five children.Life sometimes really sucks. If my only hope was in myself then I would have no hope. I cannot provide the answer to my deepest needs. All I naturally know how to do is to try to numb or escape my pain, and that is never the correct answer.

We don’t know what the psalm writer was enduring, but he also seemed to have a hard life. And he learned to look not in, but up. His help was found in God. And this God is not some lifeless idol or statue. His God does not sleep. He is always available, always ready to care.

So where do I go? To whom to I turn?I turn to Jesus. He provided for my deepest issue and most pressing eternal problem–my sin. On the cross Jesus died the death my sin earned. He took the punishment I deserve from the Holy God who justly has to judge. Jesus solved my biggest problem. I therefore turn to Him with all the rest of my problems. I trusted Jesus to handle my most pressing need. I now trust Him to guide me through the dark valleys of this life.

1. TURN TO GOD FOR YOUR HOPE, NOT TO YOURSELF.
2. GOD IS ABLE TO PROVIDE.
3. GOD IS WILLING TO CARE.–JMB