Heaven Help Us

Fundamentally, the Christian has a resource to help with stress that is a huge advantage. The Christian knows there is a tight relationship between the Creator and the things He created.

1.3 A Bolt of Lightning

Let me show you how this works. Think about one bolt of lightning for a moment. At any given moment, it is estimated that there are some 6,000 flashes of lightning happening around the globe. That bolt is only two inches wide. You can only see it for 300 millionths of a second, and there can be up to 40 strokes in that same channel of lightning. Just one bolt of lightning can reach over 50,000 degree Fahrenheit. That’s about five times hotter than the surface of the sun. Your house probably runs on 120 volts but one bolt of lightning has around 300 billion volts. If you could harness the power of just one lightning then you power 56 average homes for a day. The God I’m talking about helping you is the God who controls all that power.

So when you hear “My help comes from the Lord,” you need to know that lightning bolts are nothing more than His chariots. I think all of us can say, “He has some kind of power.” Again, there’s a tight relationship between the Creator and the thing He creates. This is your secret weapon to handle anxiety.

1.4 What’s His Exact Problem?

Back into Psalm 121 for a minute. Is Psalm 121 written about the dangers of the king, his battles and his challenges? The truth is we just don’t know. We are not told his specific problem.

I asked some of you what your anxieties were this week. You told me a wide range of things that challenge your sleep. From having no control over a situation, to your finances, and to failing your boss. Nikki says she fears large crowds and Karen says she is anxious over any kind of confrontation. Jessica says she experiences extreme anxiety when her children question their salvation. Kristin says she struggles with depression since she was a child and no pastor takes into account mental disorders when addressing the issue of anxiety. One of the most repeated fears was fear for future generations where it was a mother hurting for her children or a grandfather fearing for his grandchildren. George says he’s anxious for an adult son that’s drifting from God.

I like the fact that the psalmist doesn’t tell us what his exact problem is. Maybe the Lord reached down from the Heavens with a divine eraser to keep the psalmist from writing down his specific issue. Since we don’t this guy’s specific problem … now, everyone can reads it says, “It doesn’t matter how big my problem or what my problem is! The God of the Bible can handle it!” No matter the problem, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob can handle your problems.

I like how a chorus we sing today puts it,

“If you've got pain

He's a pain taker

If you feel lost

He's a way maker

If you need freedom or saving

He's a prison-shaking Savior”

Just ask Paul and Silas; they know about something about a prison-shaking Savior. They were in a prison cell in the ancient city of Philippi persecuted for their faith. The Bible says, “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God…” (Acts 16:25a). Paul and Silas looked up for they knew God was their helper. All of sudden, God sent an earthquake and they were free! But note this carefully, Paul and Silas sang praise before the earthquake! It’s easy to praise him after you’re saved.