When You Need Help

 

By: Donna Bucher

Maybe you noticed my title said "when" you need help; not "if" you need help, or "do" you need help, but when. We all need help at one time or another, but how many of us ask for help when we need it?

On a recent visit to my soon to be four-year-old granddaughter, Grace, she struggled with a particular item to the point of frustration. But no matter how many times I offered assistance, she held tighter, saying “No, I’ll do it myself!”

How many times do we refuse God's help and prefer to handle things ourselves? Perhaps we think we have everything under control or maybe we are embarrassed to ask because we seem so "needy". I was reminded of this last week when I attempted getting through a difficult day "by myself".

Where Does Your Help Come From?

Maybe like me, your help often comes from yourself, or possibly you look to others to help you when things go beyond your limits. But consider what the Psalmist points out in the well-known 121st Psalm, verses 1-4:

I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot slip—
he who watches over you will not slumber;
indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.

The Psalmist reminds us of two truths:

 

Our help comes from the Lord, who is a powerful Creator (Maker of Heaven and earth) over all of life's problems.

 

God never sleeps! Think about that, He is ever vigilant on our behalf, listening for our call, ready to do good on our behalf. (Isaiah 64:4) His eyes run throughout the earth looking to support those who seek Him. (2 Chronicles 16:9)

 

When reading Psalm 121:1-4, we often think the Psalmist lifts his eyes to the mountains as if he were lifting them to God. But the beauty of these verses shines through in the contrast he presents.

Lifting his eyes to the mountains while posing the question, “Where does my help come from?” represents his glance towards the “High Places” set up for idol worship throughout Israel. (Numbers 33:52, 1 Kings 12:31, Leviticus 26:30, Deuteronomy 12:2)

 Confirming instead his help is not manmade, but comes only from God, Creator of Heaven and earth.

God's Help Transforms Us

God tirelessly works for those who trust Him, who come to Him in their time of need.

 

No need is too small or too great; our loving Heavenly Father never grows weary with us seeking His help. He knows our frame, and the weakness of our hands; He delights when we come to Him!

 

He lavishes so much more on us than simply meeting a need or supporting us when we face trials. He transforms us more and more into the image of His dear Son.

As we seek Him in time of need, we learn to rejoice always, pray continually, and give thanks in all things, (1Thessalonians 5:16-18), as our trust in Him deepens.

 

We are no longer anxious about anything (Philippians 4:6), and have the peace of God, that passes all our understanding. (Philippians 4:7)

Remembering our help in any situation comes from God, the Creator of all things, who never sleeps nor is too busy to hear His own, offers us the goodness, comfort and support we need presently, but also transforms us from the inside out to be more like Christ and grow in intimacy with our Heavenly Father.

 

Isn't it so like God to give us so much more than we can ask or think?

"Fixing my eyes on God, helps me stop trying to fix everything myself."

Lysa Terkeurst

Where are you looking for help today?

 

How can you refocus on God as your only true source of help today?

Find more encouragement and FREE Resources at Serenity in Suffering!

 

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