HELP!: A 10-Day Devotional by Brandon LakeSample

“I see you, child, though you can’t see me. And I know your thoughts before you even think. I heard every last prayer you prayed. Though answered all the time, you just didn’t hear my reply. And I know it’s not easy.” This is a song written from God’s perspective to us. He sees us in the deepest valleys and the darkest nights. He sees us in the back of our closets, about ready to give up—and He pleads with us, “don’t you give up on me.” 1 John 5:15 says, “And if we know that He hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of Him.” A similar idea is expressed in Psalm 34:17: “The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; He delivers them from all their troubles.” Sometimes, when we read verses like this, we can wonder why we weren’t spared from specific hardships, but one thing we can remember is that His answer often looks different than what we might expect. He alone knows our needs, and He’s always faithful to respond, but deliverance often does not look exactly how we imagine it. Yet, He continually works on our behalf so that nothing is in vain—and He strengthens us in the process (2 Chronicles 15:7, Galatians 6:9, and Isaiah 41:10). Every fear, anxiety, and stronghold is swept away in God's presence. He is the only one who can bring true peace amidst a storm. One day, every tear will be wiped away, and in the meantime, as you go through trials and tribulations, I encourage you to keep pressing into Him—because He will never leave you. Whatever you’re going through right now, I pray that you hold onto hope and feel strength rise up in your bones. Please, just don’t give up on Him.