HelpFinder Bible - Flipbook - Page 17
page A15
• PSA L M 1 3 :1 | O Lord, how long will you forget me? Forever? How long will you look the
other way?
• MAT T H E W 2 8 :2 0 | “And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
The greater your troubles, the farther away God can seem. In your darkest hour, you may
feel that God has left you. In times like this, when it seems like God is absent, don’t trust
your feelings; trust God’s promise that he will never leave you.
• I SA I A H 5 9 :1 -2 | Listen! The Lord’s arm is not too weak to save you, nor is his ear too deaf
to hear you call. It’s your sins that have cut you off from God.
Sin is a wall that separates you from God. Sometimes it is our own persistent, willful sin
that causes us to feel cut off from the Lord and to miss the joy of fellowship with him. Is
God making you aware of sin in your life? If you persist in that sin, you may indeed feel
that God is absent. Tear down the wall of sin by humble confession, and you will find
God on the other side. Then through prayer and time with him, you will begin to sense
his presence again, and you will see evidence of his work in your life.
• J A ME S 4 :7 -8 | So humble yourselves before God. . . . Come close to God, and God will
come close to you.
If you want to have restored fellowship with God, you need to have a humble attitude,
confess your sins, and draw near to God. Humility puts you in sync with God.
Your presence provides physical and emotional support to others. Two or more can form
a team and accomplish much more together than separately. When you need “a lift”
emotionally, an inanimate object may not do much; sometimes it takes a smile, a kind
word, a hug, or a touch from someone who cares.
• J O B 4 2 :1 1 | Then all his brothers, sisters, and former friends came and feasted with him
in his home. And they consoled him and comforted him because of all the trials.
• G E NE SI S 4 5 :1 5 | Then Joseph kissed each of his brothers and wept over them, and after
that they began talking freely with him.
• 2 C O R I NT H I A NS 7 :6 | But God, who encourages those who are discouraged, encouraged
us by the arrival of Titus.
Your presence provides emotional support to others. When you need “a lift” emotionally,
an inanimate object doesn’t do much. It takes a smile, a kind word, a hug, a touch from
someone who cares.
• PSA L M 3 4 :3 | Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness; let us exalt his name together.
• A C T S 1 :1 4 | They all met together and were constantly united in prayer.
Your presence provides spiritual support to others. God’s people should meet together in
God’s presence for worship, prayer, and to encourage each other.
• G E NE SI S 3 7 :1 8 -2 9 | When Joseph’s brothers saw him coming, they recognized him in the
distance [and] made plans to kill him. . . . But when Reuben heard of their scheme, he
came to Joseph’s rescue. . . . Reuben was secretly planning to rescue Joseph. . . . Some time
later, Reuben returned to get Joseph out of the cistern. When he discovered that Joseph was
missing, he tore his clothes in grief.
When you are absent, you miss crucial opportunities to help others. Much good can be
done by just being there.
• MAT T H E W 2 5 :1 0 | “While they were gone to buy oil, the bridegroom came. Then those who
were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was locked.”
When you are absent, you miss important opportunities that can change your life.
• H E B R E W S 1 0 :2 5 | And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but
encourage one another.
Neglecting church may cause you to neglect God and his people.
HelpFinder
• E C C L E S I A S T E S 4 :9 -1 0 | Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other
succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone
is in real trouble.
A
Why is it important for us not to be absent in our relationships (from our families,
from our jobs, from the church, etc.)?