God, Help Me!

Come, let us tell of the LORD'S greatness; let us exalt his name together. I prayed to the LORD, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears. Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces. In my desperation I prayed, and the LORD listened; he saved me from all my troubles.

Psalm 34:3-6

The Psalms: Some call them biblical literature, others poetry. They were originally written as songs to praise Yahweh (the proper name of the Living God, translated as Jehovah or the LORD). We use many of the Psalms to praise God today, and they remind us of His character and greatness. Current artists who write new songs to honor God and tell of His ways are simply modern-day psalmists; so are those who write inspired messages, poetry, and stories. Our words come from more than an artistic gift or imagination. They come from the heart. They come from the Spirit. They come from experience. They come from spiritual revelation--which is a big phrase that simply means, 'I get it. I see and I understand. I believe.'

When David wrote the words of Psalm 34, he had just escaped desperate circumstances. David spent many years of his life living through one crisis after another. God had anointed him to be King of Israel when he was a young boy, but he had to wait to take the throne, and King Saul wanted him dead. Others were after him too, and he escaped death multiple times. How?

I prayed to the LORD, and he answered me...
I prayed, and the LORD listened;
he saved me from all my troubles.

He didn't say, 'I was in trouble so I kept my sword handy, and I was a mighty warrior!' That isn't to say he didn't have a sword or he wasn't a great warrior, but his trust was not in his weapons or his own skill and power. He may have been scared and run for his life, but in the end he was able to say, 'I asked God for help and He saved me. He delivered me from the things that scared me.' He wasn't fearless. He was afraid. That's why he cried out to God, his only hope.

We live in a society that says, 'Take care of yourself. Be self-sufficient. Protect yourself. Provide for yourself. Depend on your money. Depend on your education. Depend on your own strength...' The list goes on. What or who are you depending on? What have you placed your faith in? Who do you believe can really help you?

Rescue may come from invisible sources at times, but God often uses people and things to help us. I use a computer to type my blogs and stories. If mine broke, I would need God to provide money for a new one. I am currently healthy, but if I got sick, I would use medicine to cure me or rely on a surgeon's skillful hands (and I have!). I need a home to provide shelter. I eat food to keep my body fueled and healthy. When I am facing a crisis, emotional distress, or physical harm, others may come to my aid. But my trust is not in people or things. It's in God. I trust Him to take care of me. And when the day comes for me to leave this earth, I trust Him to take me to my eternal home in heaven.

Like David, however, I am often afraid. I find comfort in his words when he says, He freed me from all my fears. I don't think David is saying God took the fear away, but rather that He always rescued him from what he feared. And I would agree that's been true for me too. The things I worry about usually don't happen, especially when I ask God to help or protect me (or others) from those specific things. But even when they do happen, it's never as bad as I imagined. God gives me what I need to make it through, grow my faith and character, and even bless me in new ways.

People often ask me where I get the inspiration for my stories. I have a good imagination, and I can come up with tales "out of my head" easily; but the stories--the psalms: the testimonies of God's faithfulness and love and goodness come from my own life. Taste and see that the LORD is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him. (Psalm 34:8)  David wrote these words thousands of years ago, but they resonate with my own heart today.

I have tasted His goodness, and I have seen His faithfulness. My prayer is that you will do the same. Trust Him with whatever you need today. Look to Him for help. If you are afraid, ask Him to protect you. If you are confused or feel alone, believe He is near. You are loved. You are His. You can simply say, "God, help me!", and He will.

 

Your unfailing love, O LORD, is as vast as the heavens;
your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds.

Psalm 36:5

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.