God Helps Every Time
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
Casting Crowns had a song out several years ago titled
“Praise You in This Storm.” It includes the words from this Psalm. I love that
they put music to this and that they used it to remind us that no matter what
comes, God will help us.
Sometimes horrible things happen and we desperately
need help. More often, though, it’s the small things that knock us around and
cause us to cry out for help. It’s the four-wheeler with one wheel in a deep
hole that won’t be budged. It’s the sick cow that needs a diagnosis. It’s the
ride home from the hospital.
I am blessed to have wonderful, caring people in my
life. I know that they are only a phone call away. They are people who will
come, who actually put legs to their faith. I try to be like them. I fail
regularly but I do try.
One important lesson I’ve learned is knowing when to
ask for help. I joke about the things that are “above my pay grade.” Honestly,
most things I can do on my own. I’ve learned that I can do quite a bit when I
don’t have someone standing beside me telling me I can’t.
And then there are those things that require someone
with experience. Some tasks need two sets of hands or equipment I don’t own. And
some things just need to be explained so that I can do it on my own, like
driving the tractor.
But there are some people who mean well that insist on
doing things for me. It’s for my own good, they say. Another lesson: When
people start telling you what they need to do for you for your own good, run in
the opposite direction. It’s not about you. It’s about them. They will almost
always lead you down the wrong path.
It’s not that they don’t mean well. They do. It’s just
that no one person can do everything, be everything, for someone else. It
quickly becomes a lopsided friendship with one person thinking they can run the
other person’s life. That’s not healthy for anyone.
God is my helper. He’s the One I go to first when I
have a need. He’s the One I always seek advice from. His opinion is the one that
matters most to me.
Does He use people to help me? Absolutely. But He also
teaches me that I’m a lot more competent than I ever thought. And He teaches me
that He will always be there, always provide, always guide me.
That unsettles some people. They want to hold that
position in my life. They want to tell me what’s best for me. It seems like I’ve
heard it all. Funny thing is that what’s best for me in their eyes always ends
with them getting me to do what they want.
Do you have someone who wants to control you in your
life? Do you have someone who wants to take God’s place in your life? They
probably don’t even realize it. But you should.
I’ve learned a lot on this life journey and it’s
mostly that God is loving and dependable. I can always count on Him. I can’t
say that about anyone else. People let each other down again and again. We just
do. We can’t always be there and be there in the way someone else wants or
needs.
We don’t always give the best advice. Our thoughts and
opinions, our experiences and challenges, color our words. No matter how
objective we think we’re being, we aren’t.
When I need help, I look to God first. I know He will
help me. It might be showing me the way or it might be sending someone to me.
But God will help me. Every time. Count on it.
