God, our Helper

by
Charles Ligon

“Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen, and called its name Ebenezer, saying “Thus far the Lord has helped us”. (1 Samuel 7:12).

I recently participated in a spiritual rite-of-passage for 28 middle school boys being introduced to biblical manhood. This ritual was to help them recognize that biblical manhood begins with dependence on the Lord; He is the One who will help them in their journey of spiritual growth. To make this point, all 28 young men traversed up a steep North Carolina mountain sharing the weight of six-80 pound boulders. The young men struggled up the treacherous terrain; there were some tears, bruised shoulders, minor scrapes and, at times, discouragement. At strategic points along the way, they were challenged on certain aspects of Biblical manhood; e.g. living pure, speaking true, righting wrongs and following the King. Finally, after 4 hours, they reached the summit and victoriously stacked their “Ebenezer” stones as a remembrance to God’s help in their journey.

Samuel also placed an Ebenezer stone monument as a testimony to God’s help in overcoming the Philistines. The stone of remembrance was representative of God’s sustaining presence and boundless grace toward helpless man. Just like Samuel, believers in the workplace should acknowledge God’s presence and His help in overcoming obstacles throughout our career paths.

How has God helped or protected you in your career? Have you placed “Ebenezer stones” as a testimony to His faithfulness? Perhaps you are early in your career and you recognize the need for a greater reliance upon God. There will be hazards along the way and you will even become bruised and discouraged at times. But, never forget that God is there and will strengthen and sustain you along the way.

Your workplace challenge is to remember that God is your help at work. Consider the ways He has already helped you in your career and place stones of remembrance as a testimony to His help. Your stone could be a hand-written journal testifying to God’s intervention or a maybe a picture depicting God’s grace and mercy. Or, it could simply be a verbal testimony detailing how God carried you through times of adversity. Whatever the “stone”, never forget what God has accomplished through you.  Remember, we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. Philippians 4:13.