Little Signs God Gives to Help Us Cope, Give Us Strength

 Recent lessons have shown how traumas can leave a person very weak and needful. But God can give strength to overcome these problems when we trust Him. Those who don’t know Jesus but who are so needful – because of trauma, loss, illness, whatever - need us to show His love & follow His Word even more than usual. Everyone needs to see a reason to believe in God. They just need it more.

I know more than one case where an unsaved parent may watch closely to see if a child who trusts Jesus to save them is genuine. They may watch how the child or teen acts, treats others, etc.. They want to know if it is really different from the world. They may need to see it’s better than how they act, too. How that saved person deals with problems, treats others, relies on a personal walk with Jesus, prays, reads the Bible, etc., might be a big part of whether that parent someday trusts Jesus to save them.

If that’s you, remember, God is the one who must save. Don’t blame yourself if they don’t follow Jesus yet. (Even if it’s not you, God might bring recent prayer needs to mind where that might be the case.) Things take time. Trust God to help you know how to cope with things, pray for chances to share your faith, keep praying for them, and live a life pleasing to God the best you can Accept responsibility if you fail and know for sure you are forgiven and loved by God anyway. Don’t be a Pharisee always criticizing. Be a salesperson, showing why knowing Jesus personally is so great.

Of course, each of us must choose ourselves to follow Jesus. If it were up to us, everyone would. The main thing is, first make sure you know you trusted Jesus to save you. (That’s hy the Bible says “work out your salvation with fear and trembling.’(Phil. 2:12) It means “working out” as in working out a problem in your mind and making sure you have the right answer; it doesn’t means works can save someone. Then, know how you can share the Gospel with others. But remember, your actions tell a lot, too.

I’ll close with a few notes about how our personal God reminds us of things. I’ve been praying someone will realize God’s love for them and turn back to Him. I’ve had a number f things come to mind. I know they’re God reassuring me.

One was that a couple times, in talking with people, they have mentioned - without my asking – people in our schools who are saved and try to encourage kids when they are saved. In other words, God was assuring me that – while someone might have a problem in school – they can have counselors or others who won’t try to tear down their faith. They may let the kids “choose their own paths” but at least the person in question knows Jesus personally.

Another is how I remembered – while praying – a time a few years back when I was on church visitation. We met a young teen who hadn’t been in church lately. I ended up leading her younger sister or cousin to Christ, I forget which.

So, I asked if she had called on Jesus to save her. You know that guilty tone a kid has if they’ve been naughty? That’s how she said yes, she knew Jesus as her Saviour. If a person isn’t saved, if they say it they’ll say “yes” fast to get a person off their backs. But, the Holy Spirit was convicting her she was into something she shouldn’t be. God reminded me, like that person, this one I prayed for still knew Him. And, He was working in her.

He’s used other things, too – people, reminders, etc.. But what’s important is He knows what we each need as we pray. God is personal. He knows what we’re going through, all our anxieties. He’s just waiting for us to come to Him for help.