The Help

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you (1Peter 5:6-7).”

When you hear the word help what comes to mind? Do you think of a helper as someone who assists you but is incapable of doing the job himself? In today’s world, many people see the term helper as condescending and somehow inferior to the one who needs support. The irony is that God is called our Helper and without Him we can do nothing.

The Hebrew mindset as found in the Bible refers to a helper as someone who protects, nourishes, and co-fights with those in need. The helper does not revolve around the one needing help rather the opposite is true. And so we are seeing that God as our Helper has sent to every believer in Jesus Christ the Holy Spirit who is also named Helper, Comforter, and Counselor.

Why do we not call upon the Holy Spirit for help? Is it because we are blind to our weaknesses? Is it not smugness that holds us back? Perhaps we relish in self-pity, which is our response to suffering, rather than admit we have a problem of which we can overcome with God’s help. Or could it be our pride blocks us from admitting we have a problem we cannot resolve on our own? Two sides of one coin are self-pity and pride.

The answer to our anxieties, weakness, and shame is found in humility. As we humble ourselves to God and cry “Help” help is on the way! Look for it packaged in a human - being sent by God who loves you.