Do You Need Help?

Psalms are wonderful expressions of deep thoughts. Thoughts of thanks; appreciation; prayers; requests and laments of the authors. They help us express in words some of our own deep thoughts, turning them into prayers and drawing us closer to God. Back in the days, I use to write songs about my struggles and desires. I noticed my son did the same when he was younger. Now, I don't so much write songs, but muse on these thoughts on my walks and turn them into prayers. What do you do with your thoughts?

The first sentence of the Psalmist in Psalm 121 does not give us enough information about what is going on the mind of the writer. "I lift up my eyes to the mountains." Is he looking up to the mountains and wondering about the majesty of the maker? Does he think the mountain is a good place to hide in days of trouble? Or is he worshiping the mountain? The Psalmist did not leave us in doubt for long, he continued: "Where does my help come from?"  Aha! We now know he definitely needs help. We don't know why he needs help, but that's not important. What's important is that he acknowledges that he needs help. 

Some people never acknowledge they need help. I saw an Instagram reel yesterday. It suggested that most men don't feel they can talk to anybody about their struggles. They feel being male means sorting things out for yourself and never asking for help. But God did not wire us to be self sufficient. Right from the beginning, God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him" (Genesis 2:18, NIV). After God made everything, He said "it was good". The only time God said something was not good was man being alone. Some may think this is just about marriage, but it is not only about marriage, it is also about support. You are not alone! God has put each and everyone of us in a community and among people where we can draw help and support. Don't bottle things up, seek help from trusted people around you.  The old adage is true, "a problem shared is a problem halved". And there is a way to not just half your problems but to solve them. 

The Psalmist did not leave his question unanswered for long. He was emphatic about the source of his help. "My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth". Though he starts by looking at the mountain, very quickly his thoughts turned to the source of real help - the LORD! By using the term LORD, the psalmist acknowledges that his maker is the owner of heaven and earth. He understands that the control and authority for everything belongs to Him. Therefore, there can be no greater source to look for help than Him. 

May I encourage us to learn from the words of the psalmist. Let's acknowledge when we need help. Don't leave it until its too late. Yes, people can help us and they do, but the greatest help anyone can seek is the LORD's help. But we must be clear that people may have different lords. So, it is appropriate to ask, who is your lord? The only true LORD for the psalmist is "the Maker of heaven and earth". And there is only one such LORD, His name is Jesus.

The LORD Jesus will use people to help us, but ultimately, we must not depend or rely on people, we must rely and depend on Him. Don't be disappointed if the person you looked to for help fails, the LORD can and will raise help through others. Let's learn like the psalmist to look to Him for our help at all times. He has never failed and He will never fail. In the words of that hymn, let's turn to the LORD. "Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace". In these difficult days of crisis and conflict, in these days of great trials and temptations, when all around you seems to make no sense, know this - "Your help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth". Look no further, look to Him.