In the trials of life, God serves as a constant refuge, strength, and helper, promising never to leave or forsake believers. Through verses like Psalm 54:4 and Hebrews 13:6, God is revealed as the sustainer of life who provides divine assistance and strength to endure, enabling each to rise above fear in times of trouble.
Hebrews 13:6: “So we can confidently say, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?’”
In Hebrews 13:1-9 we are shown several ways in which we need the Lord’s help if we are to live the Christian life effectively:
The Amplified New Testament (A.N.T.) renders this verse, “Let love for your fellow-believers be a fixed practice with you. Never let it fail.” We have to admit, however, that we do let it fail. Some situations arise where we feel we have to say, ‘I cannot love him. He has hurt me and it’s beyond me to love him!’ – but you can love him, for the Lord is your helper.
This means kindness, large-heartedness. Again the A.N.T. is helpful: “Do not forget, or neglect, or refuse to extend hospitality to strangers, being friendly, cordial, gracious, sharing with others generously.” The reference is to hospitality but the application is wider. Are we large-hearted, open-hearted, cordial and gracious, or are we cold, mean, unapproachable and stand-offish? How much we need these Christian graces and virtues – and we can have them, for they are not in ourselves but in the Lord.
It’s great to have a sympathetic feeling for all who are in trouble, particularly those who are suffering for Christ’s sake (v. 3)! Today many of God’s people are suffering untold privations and great persecution and affliction simply because they are Christians. Do we have any real sympathy for them? How can we do this?” – “the Lord is my helper.”
This admonition in v. 4 was necessary for the early Christians to whom the letter was written. They had only recently been saved from a completely pagan society in which the standards of morality and of spirituality revealed in the Bible were completely unknown; but it is equally true that we in our day need to cultivate the virtue of purity. Much around us is impure, coarse and sensual. Look again at the A.N.T. rendering of this verse: “Let marriage be held in honor, esteemed worthy, precious, of great price and especially dear…for God will punish the unchaste and those guilty of sexual vice…” How can I keep pure in a society which is filled with impurity? – “the Lord is my helper.”
This refers to a calm, contented and unruffled mind and heart. V. 5 in the A.N.T. says, “Be satisfied with your present circumstances, for He has said, I will never relax my hold on you.” In other words, ‘I have Christ so what more do I want?’ Can I have this rest, even though I live in the midst of a world filled with unrest? – “the Lord is my helper.”
This is more than serenity; it is being on an even keel, settled, so that when sudden alarms come we are not thrown off-balance. V. 6 in the A.N.T. says, “So we may be encouraged and boldly say, The Lord is my helper; I will not be seized by alarm, or fear, or dread, or terror.” This is the glorious truth of Isaiah 26:3 and Philippians 4:6. What a great thing it is to have our mind and heart steadfast upon the Lord!
This verse refers to having settled convictions regarding belief. Some Christians are unstable in their appreciation (or lack of it) of God’s revealed truth. Please note that this stability begins not in the head but in the heart. It is when the heart is established with grace that we become stabilized in the things of God. Don’t say, ‘I can’t help my disbelief.’ You can – “the Lord is my helper.”
We have seen that for our need of love, generosity of spirit, sympathy, purity, serenity, composure and stability: the Lord is our helper; but don’t end this by saying “The Lord is our helper” – that is too impersonal – come to the point where you are able to say, “The Lord is my helper!” – in every time of need!