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Some years ago on fine Saturday afternoons it was my custom to scamper in the fields with some of our fatherless children. Once we went round by Salford to Weaste Lane, returning by the river bank and the adjoining fields. We were very weary and hungry when we reached Throstle Nest, and much disappointed to see no ferry-boat there to carry us across the river. After shouting to the opposite side until we were hoarse, we gave it up in despair, and I said to the children, "What shall we do?" Little Annie, a tiny girl with golden hair, replied, "I don't care, while you are here!" Does our God ever forget to attend to the requests of His people? When He has been very busy with revivals in ten thousand worlds, does He say to His angels, "Ah, angels, I am sorry I forgot to attend to that poor man in his trouble"? No, no! Our God never forgets. He is always a present help in time of trouble.

I. THE LORD IS OUR PRESENT HELP WHEN WE ARE TRIED BY TEMPTATION. When Joseph was being tempted every day, the wife of his master may have said, "Nobody shall know"; but God was Joseph's present help in that continual temptation. "How can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?" The fact of God's presence is the most powerful remedy against every temptation.

II. THE LORD IS A PRESENT HELP WHEN WE ARE ENDURING TROUBLE. All God's people are tried. If we were not tried we should not be worth much in the battlefield of faith. Only tried veterans can be relied on in a difficult enterprise. "These are they who came out of great tribulation." If you are tried, be not disheartened; remember that God will be a present help to enable you to bear up in every trouble. It is God's will to try us, because it is the only way to make us meet for the grandeur of heaven.

III. OUR GOD IS A PRESENT HELP WHEN WE ARE STRIVING TO ATTAIN A NOBLE LIFE. Notice the student working hard, long after the midnight hour has struck. See, be binds a wet cloth round his head to calm the fever of his brain; and the world says it is all right; yet when they see a man struggling to overcome bad passions and acquire virtue, they have but little sympathy; but God beholds all your weary battles, and encourages you with His presence.

IV. OUR GOD IS OUR PRESENT HELP WHEN HE ASSURES US OF SALVATION. You may have heard of a ship which sailed off from a sinking vessel and left the crew and passengers to perish; but our God, in Christ, shall leave no sinner to perish in the ocean of iniquity, without making an effort to rescue him. Whosoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. You may reply, "Ah, but, sir, Christ would refuse me, because my soul is diseased." Some insurance societies might refuse your body, but Christ will never refuse any man's soul. A man who is in very bad health, and in despair about his life, goes to a physician and tells him all about his case. Having listened to all lie has to say, the doctor comes up to him with a cheerful face, saying, "Well, I can guarantee to cure you." Why, the man goes away almost better! Now, Christ says to every soul that is diseased with sin, "I can cure you." And He has cured myriads of such souls.

(W. Birch.)

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KJV: {To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, A Song upon Alamoth.} God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

WEB: God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.