With God's Help

So you, by the help of your God, return, hold fast to love and justice and wait continually for your God.” Hosea 12:6

Do you ever get overwhelmed with trying to follow God? Do you ever think you have strayed too far to turn back? This morning as I read through Hosea, I was greatly encouraged by the phrase in Hosea 12:6, “by the help of your God.” Too often when I struggle, I seek to return or make amends in my own strength. I get it in my mind that I need to do enough good things in order to get back into good enough standing to talk to God or to seek Him. However, when I do this I am often just delaying my return to fellowship with the Lord. I am trying to accomplish on my own what can only be accomplished with His help.

Now, this does not mean that there will not be work and effort involved or that we can just simply pray a prayer and God will do all the work and we will just sit back in comfort. Hosea was pleading with the people of Israel and Judah to hold on to love and justice. They would need to make changes and takes steps to return; however, it is not something that can be done in our own strength. This reminds me of Philippians 2:12-13 where Paul pleads with the Philippian believers to work out their salvation in fear and trembling while reminding them that it is God that works in and through them for His good pleasure. We need to rely on God, seek His help, and then take steps of obedience. Too often we try and take steps of obedience without seeking God’s help, trying to make ourselves “worthy” of His acceptance. We need to humbly seek Him first and then obey with His strength.

At the end of this verse Hosea gives an incredible reminder, “wait continually for your God.” We always need to seek God and wait dependently upon Him. May you be encouraged by God’s Word as you read this. Actively wait on the Lord. Do not get out ahead of God, and do not think that you are too far behind that you cannot return. Whether you are struggling or walking actively with the Lord, our call is still to wait dependently upon Him. By the help of our God, follow Him today.