Jesus! What a Guide and Keeper!

I often wonder how people who don't know the Lord can manage in this world of ours. I am so reassured by the fact that Jesus is my guide! He leads me in the way I should go, and I can count on Him to be a faithful guide. And I love what Scripture tells us: that He leads me and guides me FOR HIS NAME'S SAKE!

For You are my rock and my fortress; For Your name’s sake You will lead me and guide me. Psalm 31:3

In this dark world of sin, it can sometimes seem like we can't walk by ourselves. It can be easy to become undone. But God has a promise for us - He will guide us! He will make darkness into light and the rugged places into plains.

“I will lead the blind by a way they do not know, in paths they do not know I will guide them. I will make darkness into light before them and rugged places into plains. These are the things I will do, and I will not leave them undone.” Isaiah 42:16

Think about rugged places versus plains. Rugged places require climbing - and probably vigorous climbing. They require great care so your feet and hands don't slip. They are dangerous. Plains are wide open spaces that are flat - you can skip along freely without being afraid of falling. Our promise from our Savior is that He will guide us and make the dangerous, scary, rugged places into plains - similar to another promise in Isaiah that He will make our "paths straight."

Jesus, when He was here on earth, was a guide to His followers. But He knew that He had to fulfill His Father's plan, and that we would need a more "permanent" guide. Of course, the Father had already worked this out! Jesus told His followers that a new helper would come and would guide us in all the truth.

But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. John 16:13

And the promise to guide doesn't end with our earthly life! When we live eternally with our Lord in heaven, He will still be guiding us!

"They will hunger no longer, nor thirst anymore; nor will the sun beat down on them, nor any heat; for the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and will guide them to springs of the water of life; and God will wipe every tear from their eyes." Revelation 7:16-17

God is our guide even when the storms are around and the high winds blow. And the best part? He's a guide who hears us! The Bible is full of stories of God hearing His people, and we can be assured that when we cry for help, He hears!

In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried to my God for help; He heard my voice out of His temple, and my cry for help before Him came into His ears. Ps 18:6

We know that Jesus is our high priest who can sympathize with us, and I love this example. He hears our cries, because He knows what it's like to cry out! When He was in the garden, He cried out to His Father, and He was heard.

In the days of His flesh, He offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His piety. Heb 5:7

What promises we have from our God! Join me in rejoicing over Jesus, our Guide, Keeper and hearer of our cries.

Jesus! What a Friend for Sinners!
Words by J. Wilbur Chapman

Jesus! what a Friend for sinners!
Jesus! Lover of my soul;
Friends may fail me, foes assail me,
He, my Savior, makes me whole.

Refrain
Hallelujah! what a Savior!
Hallelujah! what a Friend!
Saving, helping, keeping, loving,
He is with me to the end.

Jesus! what a Strength in weakness!
Let me hide myself in Him.
Tempted, tried, and sometimes failing,
He, my Strength, my victory wins.

Jesus! what a Help in sorrow!
While the billows over me roll,
Even when my heart is breaking,
He, my Comfort, helps my soul.

Jesus! what a Guide and Keeper!
While the tempest still is high,
Storms about me, night overtakes me,
He, my Pilot, hears my cry.

Jesus! I do now receive Him,
More than all in Him I find.
He hath granted me forgiveness,
I am His, and He is mine.

Jesus! What a Help in Sorrow!

The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18

Jesus! He is a friend for sinners and a strength in weakness. And he is a help in sorrow. When you are overwhelmed by sadness, let Jesus be the first one you turn to - He feels your pain and your heartache and He cares for you!

When you suffer in this life, it may feel like you are drowning. As this hymnwriter says, the billows over me roll. It might be all you can do to keep your head above water. Know that Jesus is with you! He is working through you in the midst of your suffering, and He has promised never to leave you.

I cling to God's promises, especially what He says through the prophet Isaiah:

But now, thus says the Lord, your Creator, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel, “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine! When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior." Isaiah 43:1-3

Even when you feel like you are drowning, He will not let the waters overflow you!

Jesus is a friend to the brokenhearted. He sympathizes with us. Remember the story of Lazarus? When Jesus got to Bethany, He didn't just tell Mary and Martha to stop crying. Lazarus was his friend, and while he wept for him, I believe His weeping was also in sympathy with Lazarus' sisters. He showed that His heart was broken by this, too.

And just as Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, He can bring new life out of your sorrows and heartbreak. Let Him be your comforter, your healer and your friend.


Jesus! What a Friend for Sinners!
Words by J. Wilbur Chapman

Jesus! what a Friend for sinners!
Jesus! Lover of my soul;
Friends may fail me, foes assail me,
He, my Savior, makes me whole.

Refrain
Hallelujah! what a Savior!
Hallelujah! what a Friend!
Saving, helping, keeping, loving,
He is with me to the end.

Jesus! what a Strength in weakness!
Let me hide myself in Him.
Tempted, tried, and sometimes failing,
He, my Strength, my victory wins.

Jesus! what a Help in sorrow!
While the billows over me roll,
Even when my heart is breaking,
He, my Comfort, helps my soul.

Jesus! what a Guide and Keeper!
While the tempest still is high,
Storms about me, night overtakes me,
He, my Pilot, hears my cry.

Jesus! I do now receive Him,
More than all in Him I find.
He hath granted me forgiveness,
I am His, and He is mine.