Psalm 86:1-10, 16-17
Your Story
Talk about a time when someone has gone above and beyond to help you. How did that make you feel? Has there been a time when you have gone above and beyond to help someone? How did you feel after you helped?
My Story and the Bible Story
When I was in preschool, I had a teacher named Miss June. I loved Miss June. She had a really big heart. She was very sweet. But the thing I loved most about her was that she kept me company when everyone else was taking a nap. I had to do a breathing treatment for my asthma every day after lunch. While everyone else napped, I had to stay awake and use my nebulizer. I’m sure there were a lot of other things that Miss June could have done while everyone else was asleep, but she kept me company. She talked to me and she even shared her cottage cheese with me. It meant a lot to me that she stayed with me. I didn’t feel weird having to do something different from everyone else because Miss June made me feel special.
In Psalm 86, David reminds us of what a big heart God has. Read Psalm 86:1-10, 16-17. From The Message: Bend an ear, God; answer me. I’m one miserable wretch! Keep me safe—haven’t I lived a good life? Help your servant—I’m depending on you! You’re my God; have mercy on me. I count on you from morning to night. Give your servant a happy life; I put myself in your hands! You’re well-known as good and forgiving, bighearted to all who ask for help. Pay attention, God, to my prayer; bend down and listen to my cry for help. Every time I’m in trouble I call on you, confident that you’ll answer. There’s no one quite like you among the gods, O Lord, and nothing to compare with your works. All the nations you made are on their way, ready to give honor to you, O Lord, ready to put your beauty on display, parading your greatness, and the great things you do—God, you’re the one, there’s no one but you! …So look me in the eye and show kindness, give your servant the strength to go on, save your dear, dear child! Make a show of how much you love me so the bullies who hate me will stand there slack-jawed, as you, God, gently and powerfully put me back on my feet.
The Message translates this as You’re well-known as good and forgiving, bighearted to all who ask for help. Our God is a bighearted God. God listens to us, is there for us, and helps us. God knows what we need before we even ask and loves us enough to want what’s best for us, even if what’s best for us is hard. When we are alone, God is there. When we are surrounded by people but still feel alone, God is there. When we are happy, God is there. When we are sad, God is there then too. When we are angry, God is there. When we are scared, God is there. We can be confident that God will answer us when we call. You never have to worry about God’s phone going to voicemail. God never gets angry with you. God never refuses to listen to you.
Some of our VBS songs reminded us that God is for us and not against us. God loves you and is in your corner. And when you fall, when things don’t go the way you planned, when people make fun of you, when things are hard, as David says, God will “gently and powerfully put [you] back on [your] feet.” Even when you don’t feel God’s presence, God is there. Even when you’re angry at God, God is there. Even when you’re sad, God is there. God hears your prayers. God bends down and listens to your cries. When you are in trouble, when everything is falling apart, you can cry out to God and know without a doubt that God will always hear you.
Discussion Questions
• How do you see God’s bigheartedness in your own life?
• Have you had someone help you when you didn’t think anybody would? How did you feel?
• Have you ever helped someone who nobody else helped? How did you feel? How did that make them feel that you helped?
• How can you show others how much God loves them?
Prayer
Thank God for always being there for you and for listening to your cries for help. Praise God for how bighearted God is!
Jessica Asbell is currently serving as the Minister to Children at First Baptist Church of Roswell, GA. She has worked with children in various capacities at several churches, including Winter Park Baptist in Wilmington, NC, First Baptist of Decatur, GA, and Highland Hills Baptist in Macon, GA. She has a Master of Divinity from McAfee School of Theology and a BBA from Mercer University. In her spare time she loves to read, watch movies, and of course spend time with her sweet kitty, Lucy.
