It's tempting to say that
the above passage promises God's help in the future.
But that's not it exactly.
Rather, the passage promises
God's help in the present. At the moment you need
help, God's Holy Spirit comes through.
There's more. God's Son, who's
doing the talking in this passage, warns us not to
worry about the future at all. Because doing so blinds
us to God's availability now — as a
present helper.
So, as strange as it may sound,
don't just hope in the future. Hope in the
present.
This truth is lost when we
envision God's power as only some future provision,
when, actually, if we need his help now, he
helps now.
How does this truth — how
does God — help us porn strugglers
now?
By providing his Holy Spirit
now. By providing his comfort now. By
providing protection now. By providing a way
out now.
Look around. Listen. Think. What
help is God providing now, maybe right under
you nose?
The power switch on your
computer? The phone to call a friend? The (forgive my
favorite diversion in time of trouble) crossword
puzzle?
How ever unlikely the help, grab
it, and run.
God is the God of the
present.
No wonder one of his names is "I
Am."
Next: Hope When
Tempted.