Day 11 – Lord, Help Me
An honest, heartfelt, and perhaps frequent prayer we pray is “Lord, help me.”
We need God’s help in ordinary days:
• God’s help in our minds – for clarity, insight, and discernment.
• God’s help in our wills – for decisiveness, determination, and persistence.
• God’s help in our emotions – for encouragement, assurance, and comfort.
• God’s help in our bodies – for strength, ability, and stamina.
• God’s help in our relationships – for patience, kindness, and getting along.
In ordinary days, we can say with confidence: “The LORD is with me; he is my helper” (Psalm 118:7). “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid” (Hebrews 13:6).
We also need God’s help in desperate days: When a crisis strikes. When receiving bad news. When in distress or despair or depression. When facing a financial crunch. When enduring a physical ailment. When suffering a great loss. When weak or weary or worn out. “Lord, help me.”
In the Gospels, a woman whose daughter was demon-possessed and suffering terribly came and knelt before Jesus.
She knew who Jesus was and is. She knew Jesus could help her daughter. And she repeatedly cried out for mercy. “Lord, help me!” (Matthew 15:25).
In this instance, Jesus drew out the woman in conversation, testing her faith. It’s as though he was ignoring her, even pushing her away. In reality he wanted to be pressed further.
She read the situation correctly and pressed in harder. Her “Lord, help me!” cry was heard.
“Then Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.’ And her daughter was healed at that moment” (Matthew 15:28).
This woman’s desperate, audacious, persistent, tenacious cry for help was rewarded. The God who can change things for the better did so.
In desperate days, we can say with confidence: “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1). “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” (Psalm 121:1-2).
Just as we are unable to eat enough today to last us for the next six months, and just as we are unable to inhale enough air into our lungs with one breath to sustain our lives for the coming week, so too we are unable to take in a supply of God’s help for the future.
Rather, we call upon God’s help in the present as we need it. And receive it. He is an ever-present help.
Prayer: “Lord, help me today. No matter what I face, I won’t let go of your hand.”
~ Pastor Dave
