This past Sunday a consistent theme found in both our children and youth lessons was the importance of recognizing our need of God. An inescapable truth in Scripture is that God's people are not exempt from suffering. Another truth, however, is that God hears the cries of his people and is the one who delivers them out of their difficult circumstances. For example, read Psalms 34:17; 55:17-18; 72:12; and 107:5-6.
A covenant relationship is an agreement between two persons or parties. When God makes a covenant with His people one expectation He has is for His people to recognize their need of Him. The Jewish people who had been enslaved in Egypt discovered this truth. Exodus 2:23-24 states, "During those many days the king of Egypt died, and the people of Israel groaned because of their slavery and cried out for help. Their cry for rescue from slavery came up to God. And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob."
Do not look at trials as punishment. Learn from them. See your need of God, cry out to Him and trust that He will bring deliverance.
