“The past troubles will be forgotten…See, I will create new heavens and a new earth.” Isaiah 65:16-17
“I’m done.” Towel thrown in. “Who cares?” “Take over God because I am over and out!”
I would like to be an image of sunshine and rainbows flitting about my home always spreading joy, but lately, I’ve felt more like a storm cloud with lightning bolts, gray skies, maybe some hail, throw in a tornado with high destructive winds….
Ever felt this way?
Some days that bitter ick can be so strong, you just want to quit. You know, say, “Perseverance, schmursiverance. For how long God? How long must I endure this pain, waiting for relief?!”
But God…He never quits.
I recently had an experience, several really, where I felt this way. It helped me reflect back on many other times in my life when I felt this way. Before I found my way back to God, when I did experience these feelings, I walked the other direction. Done! I walked away from the pain. However, since my surrender to God, I have my moment of pouting, let the tears flow, argue a little, say my “under the breath” frustrations, then say, “Help.”
Help.
I think we all know what “help” is, but when you actually read the definition “help” as a verb, it has a very symbolism that shakes me: “to provide with what is useful in achieving an end; to give relief from pain or disease.1”
“I lift 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
True help, the kind of help that achieves an “end” that gives relief from pain or disease comes from the ONE who made it all. The maker of heaven and earth, the healer of heaven and earth.
I’ve thought a lot about the miracles in the Bible. The people so desperate that they would lower friends through roofs (Luke 5), put mud on their eyes (John 9), beg to bring loved ones back from the dead (John 11), feed thousands of people with almost nothing (Matthew 14), turn water to wine (John 2), stop storms and walk on water (Mark 4, John 6). If you study these miracles you will notice a theme throughout. Jesus usually asks a question and He usually concludes with a statement related to “Your faith has healed you.” Each miracle took faith. It took people knowing they needed help. Courage to ask for the help. Wisdom to receive it. He didn’t just point a fairy wand and say you are healed and you are healed. No, part of our healing is asking for help. Knowing we need to be healed!
So, when I start to have my adult temper tantrum, stomping around angry that life circumstances are the way they are. When I grab my “towel” and throw it in. When I feel “who cares anymore?!” When I finally surrender to “I’m done.” Deep breath….then God can effectively work in that space. I kind of think He looks down with compassion and mercy and whispers “Are you done with your temper tantrum daughter? Great, I am at your service, how can I help?”
Help on the mountains needing moved I have learned, has taught me a further lesson. I may be able to move some small rocks and sand hills, but when it is a behemoth, that is when God says, you will need an army on this one! “Can you be brave daughter, and ask others for help too?” Somehow in my quiet room, looking out the window talking to God feels easier than speaking out loud to other people. Now my weaknesses are made known and I have to admit there is something I can’t accomplish on my own. Truth is, there isn’t much I can accomplish on my own anyway, so why pretend?
Lately, the help I have needed is in such epic proportions it required speaking out loud to others. Actually having to trust that others can help me when we join together with healing and restoration on the agenda. Each time God has led me to ask for help, when I spoke, a relief came that created a peace beyond understanding, just as He promises.
“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7
We aren’t meant to be alone. We are meant to share our trials and struggles and the only way we can be delivered from them is to shine them in the light where others can stand with us as God shines down and heals what has been broken. Even a broken bone, when examined by a doctor uses light to get a closer look at what is broken and where. The contrast of light and dark in an image reveals the spots that need healing. If you stay home and never share that pain, the broken bone may never be identified. It may heal improperly and it may heal incorrectly needing further correction later. Our personal, relational, and emotional struggles also need this same treatment.
This week, better yet, TODAY, right now, take that emotional, relational, personal struggle you need help with and say it out loud to someone besides yourself. Ask God “who do I tell?” and free yourself of struggling alone. Let the true healer step in. And a reminder, be patient, healing takes time and sometimes you can think help isn’t coming, but God is always working and that answer will show up!
Father, we all need help with something, show us what it is, who we need to ask, and restore our Hope! Help us to be rainbows of hope to others once again.
Love, Julie
Father, Today I Surrender:
My Help
Show me the next step I should take.