Help, LORD!

Recently, well in the past several months at least, a recurring theme in conversations with other believers has been how hard things are. So many are struggling more than in years past...........and in many different arenas.

For some it is focused in finances, especially job related......so many out of work and looking for something!! Anything!!! For others, it is the cost of living going up but not the income.

Another common thread is that of aging parents and all of the many issues that come with that, not the least of which is relocation for them??!!! There are so many questions raised and very few, if any, easy answers. How did it happen that we now see "retirement VILLAGES......nursing HOMES...........senior COMMUNITIES" on corners and blocks everywhere we turn? I have no idea the amount of monies going into this "Senior" industry, but it must be huge!!

Often the discussions are centered on hard health issues, either personal ones, or spouse, or children, or other loved ones, or friends' loved ones. So much more common now than I remember even 10-15 years ago!!! This often becomes a financial burden, as well.

But, one topic in common that I am hearing most often is the longing for heaven and deliverance from the on-going and worsening reports of evil throughout the world. The personal spiritual battles of the mind and heart, longing to trust God and have peace, but finding that to be so difficult under the pressures and stresses of life.

But one only has to read consistently in Scripture to find a common bond with the saints of old who also were longing for His Peace, His deliverance, His joy, His comfort in the midst of trials and tribulations!! Of course, it would be that way. Human nature has not changed since the Garden of Eden became off-limits because of sin.

David set a great example for us in Psalm 12:1 when he prayed, "Help, LORD!". When the creature failed, he flew to the Creator. He evidently felt his own weakness, or he would not have cried for help. But at the same time, he intended honestly to exert himself for the cause of truth, for the word "help" is inapplicable where we ourselves do nothing. The psalmist runs straight to his God with a well-considered prayer.

LORD, teach me.....teach us ....to pray in the same blessed manner. Am I not saying..."LORD, I trust you! Lord, I need You! LORD, You are the Sovereign One!"? In fact, in all cases, times and places, "Help, LORD!" will suit us....... living and dying, suffering or laboring, rejoicing or sorrowing. In Him, our help is found.

The answer to the prayer is certain, if it is sincerely offered through Jesus. The LORD's character assures us that He will not leave His people. His gift of Jesus is a pledge of every good thing...........so Paul tells us in Ro 8:32 "He, who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him freely give us all things?"

I look up unto the hills.............my HELP comes from the LORD!!