September 23, 2025

GOD HEARS/GOD RESCUES/GOD IS CLOSE

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

“The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed. The righteous person faces many troubles, but the Lord comes to the rescue each time.”

Psalms 34:17-19 NLT

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TODAY’S THOUGHT

Adoniram Judson, the first American missionary to Burma, endured nearly four decades of hardship. He buried children and two wives, suffered 21 months in a Burmese prison, and faced sickness and deep discouragement. Yet through it all, he held firm to the truth of Psalm 34: God hears, God rescues, and God is close.

Today, many believers are tempted to think that if we have enough faith or are filled with the Spirit, we won’t face problems, sickness, or setbacks. But Scripture does not promise a trouble-free life—it promises God’s presence and deliverance during trouble.

Here’s what this passage reminds us:

1. Righteous people have trouble

David does not say the righteous might have trouble—he says they will. Life in a broken world means pain and hardship are unavoidable. Sin, selfishness, and injustice surround us. People deceive, steal, and hurt. Sickness, financial reversals, and natural disasters strike without warning. Life isn’t always fair—but God is always faithful.

2. God hears

When trouble comes, we can cry out to God with confidence that He hears. He is not distant or indifferent. Just as He said to Moses, “I have heard the cries of my children” (Exodus 3:7), He still bends His ear toward His people today. None of our prayers are ignored.

3. God rescues

David writes, “The Lord comes to the rescue each time” (Psalm 34:19). His rescue doesn’t always look the way we expect, and His timing is rarely our timing. Sometimes He delivers instantly, other times He allows us to walk through the storm, so our faith grows deeper. Paul understood this when he declared, “God’s power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). Faith trusts that rescue will come—because God is faithful, even when we can’t yet see the answer.

4. God is close

Perhaps the most comforting truth is that God draws near to the brokenhearted. He is not a far-off rescuer who shouts instructions from heaven; He is Emmanuel— “God with us.” Isaiah records His promise: “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you” (Isaiah 43:2). Jesus affirmed the same: “I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). The nearness of His presence is our greatest comfort.

Adoniram Judson clung to these truths. Though he endured crushing pain, his perseverance left a legacy that outlived him. He translated the entire Bible into Burmese, witnessed the first converts in Burma, and planted churches that still bear fruit today. His life testifies that even in the darkest valleys, God hears, God rescues, and God is close.

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TODAY’S PRAYER

Holy Spirit, give me the faith to call on You in times of struggle. Help me believe that You are at work, even when I cannot see or feel it. Remind me daily that You hear me, You rescue me, and You are always near. Amen.

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