SIDE

noun: a position that is contrasted with another; an aspect or part of something, a team

“Oh look! God’s right here helping! God’s on my side…”  Psalm 54:4

Does anybody else have trouble believing that sometimes?

God is right here helping?

And he’s on my side?

Why?

The deeply critical part of me tells me that I don’t deserve his help or his favor. I lower my eyes as I imagine him selecting his people, convinced that I am not worth choosing.

Haven’t I failed him too many times?

Aren’t I much more likely to follow my own desires than his?

Don’t I give in to fear or doubt more often than not?

Why would he tell me that he is on my side?

Doesn’t he want an army of rock-star Christians who never make mistakes? Doesn’t he want the best–the ones who excel and perform with consistent success? Doesn’t he look for people who have it all together? And the faithful ones who never doubt or get anxious?

God on my side? This seems crazy.

David wrote this Psalm thousands of years ago when he was experiencing life-threatening trouble with more on the way. And here in the 21st century, in the middle of chaos and stress like many of us have never known, I realize that that the God that David was crying out to is the same God I cry out to. In my discouragement and fear of the future, in my panic at the loss of control, and in my heavy and over-burdened heart, I read about my God who not only chose me to be on his side, but one that came over to mine.

He is for me, not against me.

But I still wonder why…

And then I remember that he didn’t choose me because I deserved it. I keep having to learn that God doesn’t work that way.

No, he came to help me and defend me simply because HE LOVES ME and because I NEED HIM.

That’s his message to each of us right now.

Yes, we have made some really bad choices. Yes, we tend to ignore his voice and listen to others too much. Yes, we are slow to learn and quick to forget his truth.

And yes, this is a really difficult time. It is more evident than ever that we are not in control. We are not handling things very well. And we are shaking in our boots a little bit.

But he knows all this, and he still loves us with an everlasting love that we cannot wrap our minds around. He graciously forgives us for these things over and over and over. And he never stops pursuing us and drawing us close.

He is helping us, and he is on our side, because HE LOVES US and because WE NEED HIM.

Invite Him In

Surrender your doubt, your shame, and your fear to Jesus. He came to help you. Let him fight with you and for you. You can say, “Oh look! God’s right here helping!”  because the King of Kings, the Creator and Savior of all, is on your side.