When You Feel Helpless … You Are Heard

Thousands of people on land and sea have been located and rescued because of GPS, and for many, the help came in the nick of time. Search and rescue technology has advanced beyond anyone’s imagination. When you send up a cry for help, rescuers can pinpoint your location if you have any kind of GPS receiver.

But not even our most advanced technology can respond to our deepest cries for help. Our greatest needs are within us, in our hearts, our minds, our families, and our circumstances.

The Help Passages of Scripture

If you feel overwhelmed today, I want to suggest studying some of the Help Passages of the Bible. The word help constantly occurs in the Bible, reminding us that when we’re in need, we should turn to the Lord. He is always there to help us.

Psalm 46:1 says, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (NKJV).

Isaiah 41:10 says, “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you” (NKJV).

Hebrews 13:5–6 says, “For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ So we may boldly say: ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?’” (NKJV).

Have You Prayed About This?

If you’re overwhelmed with feelings of helplessness, have you prayed about the matter that’s troubling you? Hebrews 4:16 says, “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (NKJV).

God’s grace is available to help us through prayer. We’re never as helpless as we feel, for we have unhindered access through Jesus Christ to the throne of grace where we can obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Have You Decided to Trust God with This?

In Mark 9:22–24 (NKJV), we meet a man who asked Jesus for help in two different ways. He was anguished over his demon-possessed son, and he cried out to Jesus, saying, “If You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”

Jesus replied, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”

The man replied, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”

How often that has been my prayer, and yours, too. We cry to God for help in a critical matter, and then we must ask Him to help us in a second way—to help us to trust Him as He helps us. The Lord gladly answers those prayers. How often He reminds us of the undeniable power of His promises and of the past deliverances He has already granted. As time goes by, we learn to trust Him more and more.

Are You Walking in the Fullness of the Spirit?

To experience God’s help in time of need, we also must rely on the Holy Spirit and walk in His fullness. Notice how Jesus described the Holy Spirit in John 14:16: “And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever” (NKJV). Romans 8:26 adds, “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses” (NKJV). Are you walking in the fullness of the Spirit; who is your Helper?

If you feel adrift in a sinking raft, overwhelmed, helpless in some area of your life, remember the ever-present help of Almighty God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Pray and trust Him with all that you commit to Him and let Him strengthen you.