A very present help in time of need

I remember that morning well, I was 22 years old wearing long white linen trousers with a pale pink hoody. It was early in the morning, the sky was blue and the sun was shining brightly. I could feel it's warmth on my back as I walked the mile or so distance from my house to church in the Northern suburbs of Sydney. It was a main road, joining two communities, so there were no houses around, just beautiful eucalyptus trees. It was one of those mornings when everything felt great. I had a bit of a spring to my step and I was excited to get to church to help serve on the children's team. It was quiet and most people were still enjoying their Sunday morning lay in. I don't even remember the truck pulling up, it was just suddenly there, right next to the curb, following me as I innocently walked along the pavement. The guy had his windows open, he looked scruffy and like he was in his early 50's. He leaned out the window, I thought he was going to ask for directions, but I kept walking because I got a weird vibe about him. With an aggressive tone he leant out the window and said, "Get in the truck". My heart beat sped up immediately and the palms of my hands got clammy. 'Did he really just order me to get in his truck? Who is this guy? What does he want with me?' Questions flooded my mind and I suddenly felt alone and vulnerable. I picked up my step and ignored him. He clearly wasn't happy that I wasn't responding to his request. So he said again, this time in a much louder aggressive voice, "I said, get in my truck.. Now!" I knew that I was in danger. My perfect idillic morning had changed. Now I felt cold, scared, alone and at risk. "Oh Jesus, make him go away" I prayed under my breath! I carried on walking along the street, glancing back to see if there were any other cars coming. The road was dead. He continued to drive his truck close to the curb at the same pace I was walking. He shouted at me a third time, this time I knew he was mad. "If you don't get in my truck right now I'm going to get you in here myself". I began to run, but his truck continued the same speed as me, I felt stuck, I couldn't get away. I needed help, but there was no one to help me. "Jesus help me!" I whispered, again. This time the man hung out of his window, and shouted "you're a working girl, right? So get in my truck!" I turned to him and gave out a massive scream! Then I shouted "leave me alone!" I was shaking all over but I had to be brave, I didn't know what he was going to do next. I think my scream scared him a little because he put his hand up and said "ok, you win" and sped off up the road. I was terrified and shaking uncontrollably. My heart was beating faster and faster. I still had a way to go before I got to church. I remember saying out loud, "God I need your help and I need it now!" I thought I was going to pass out. As soon as I had said that prayer another car pulled up! This time it was full of friends! Five boys who were on their way to church and had just come back from a camping trip. They had been driving by and saw that I was in trouble, so they did a U-turn and came back to get me. They opened the car door and I literally nose dived into the back seat of that car and had never been so glad to see five smelly brothers in all my life! The thing I love about this story is that when I cried out to God in my distress, He heard me and He sent the help I needed. He was there at just the right time. He is our very present help in time of need. I still shudder when I think of that day now, even though it was quite a few years ago. I wonder what would have happened if my friends hadn't been there to save me. But thank God they were! And thank God that He is there to save us too. So many times in my life I have been in a difficult situation, at times very dangerous situations, I have called out to God in desperation asking Him to save me and He always has. This doesn't mean I have never endured pain, I have! And I carry the scars to prove it. But what it does mean is that despite what I have experienced, God has always, always been by my side to rescue me. I may have got hurt, beat up, abused. People have at times tried to destroy my very soul, sickness has come and attacked my body, friends have betrayed me and those in authority falsely accused me. But my God is always there to save me. He is there to rescue me in my time of need. And the thing that was sent to destroy me will never have any permanent damage in my life because God is able to lift me up out of the ashes, rescue, restore and redeem every part of my life. And lead me on to a life of victory, freedom and wholeness. You might be saying, but you don't know what I've gone through! Right, I don't! And I'm so sorry for the pain you've experienced. But, I know what I've been through and I know what was sent to kill me should have! I know that I would not be here today if not for the grace of God. I know that God has been there, walking with me through the seasons of my life. I know that He hears me when I call. I know that my inability to see Him sometimes does not affect His ability to see me. I know that He knows, He sees, He understands and He carried me through the most testing times. I know that He is always there to help me in times of trouble. And the same God that has rescued, restored and redeemed my life out of the pit, can do the same for you. So, I encourage you today to call out to Him for help, He is so much closer than you know! Maybe you don't know this loving God I'm talking about. Maybe you do but you feel far from Him right now. The Bible tells us that if we "draw near to God, He will draw near to us". So why don't you draw near to Him today, ask Him to show you that He's there and He loves you. Ask Him to help you get out of the pit you find yourself in. Ask for His help. Friend, my prayer for you today is that you would know God as your very present help in time of need. That peace that surpasses all understanding would fill your mind and flood your soul. He loves you and is with you right now, trust Him. “God is a safe place to hide, ready to help when we need him. We stand fearless at the cliff-edge of doom, courageous in seastorm and earthquake, Before the rush and roar of oceans, the tremors that shift mountains. Jacob-wrestling God fights for us, GOD -of-Angel-Armies protects us.” Psalm 46:1-3 MSG