Why Do We Pray 'God Help Me'?
- Rebecca Mashburn Contributing Writer
- Updated Jul 13, 2021
We have all been desperate and crying out for help at some point in our lives. Even now, in the midst of the coronavirus, in the midst of uncertainty, we need God’s help. We do not know the extent of what is going on in our world today, but the fact is we always need God.
There are certain things in life that God has given us in wisdom like the washing of our hands. But, when we think we do not need God’s help, then almost always we are saying we can do this on our own.
I get it. We are being stripped of what we have known for almost our entire lives. The comfort of our world is seeming like we are living out a horror movie. We can choose to look at this season of our life and be fearful. Or, we can choose to look to God and seek His wisdom and help. “Behold, God is my helper; the Lord is the upholder of my life” (Psalm 54:4).
Wisdom from Heaven
Right now, so many of us are dealing with circumstances in our lives that require God’s guidance, wisdom, and help. I know that I am not the only one who has prayed “God help me” in some way, shape, form, or fashion. In Psalm 121, it says, “I lift my eyes toward the mountains. Where will my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.”
Our eyes have to be focused on God. If we look elsewhere, the past, or even our own circumstances, we are going to fall into our own trap. What is this trap? Well, lately I have been looking toward my own understanding and wisdom. This has not worked out well for me. Believe me.
My analysis of everything has led me to look into my own heart, wisdom, and knowledge. God used someone close to me in my life to help me see that I was seeking understanding and wisdom from my own heart.
In Jeremiah 17:9, it says, “The heart is more deceitful than anything else, and incurable — who can understand it?” Instead of looking to our own hearts for help, let us seek God in His wisdom and understanding. After all, our trust and confidence are in the Lord always (Jeremiah 17:7).
The Helper
The Psalms are full of outcries for God to help, rescue, save, and much more. This book in the Bible is a great tool to ask for these things and a way to relate in our human ways of seeking help. I often find myself searching Bible verses on prayer, help, seeking, and trust.
Almost every time I find these in the book of Psalms. But what is the most helpful and uplifting is when Jesus ascended to heaven after His death and resurrection, He gave us a Helper (Acts 1 and 2). This Helper is the Holy Spirit. John 14:15-18 says,
“If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever — the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.”
God gave us the Holy Spirit to be our teacher, our guide, our wisdom, and our helper. The Bible also says in Romans 8:26 that “...the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.”
Sometimes our prayers for help are too deep and too overwhelming to speak. The Holy Spirit within us understands cries and groaning when the pain is too much to handle. With the coronavirus and financial uncertainty still among us, it is understandable to seek God’s help.
We can focus our attention on our circumstances and ask God for help, or we can give our circumstances and attention to God. It is our choice what we give the upper hand in our lives. But also, we tend to resort to our own default. Our defaults are sort of like a default setting on our phones.
We choose our preferences and stick to them. But when the default settings do not work anymore, we have to look for other options. So, let our defaults be reset to God’s Word instead of our own thoughts, ways, and preferences.
What Does This Mean?
Philippians 4:6 says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” So, as we pray for God’s help, let us give our anxious thoughts to God and focus on what God has already done for us.
When we seek Him wholeheartedly, we are giving Him control of our circumstances. Therefore, trust God to help you and do not doubt. For if we doubt, we are being double-minded (James 1:6-8).
Here are some encouraging Bible verses in our time of need. I pray these verses speak directly to you from our Father in Heaven, and that you continue to give your cares to God in whom you can trust always. In Jesus name, Amen.
“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me” (John 14:1).
The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him (Psalm 28:7).
The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him (Nahum 1:7).
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Rebecca Mashburn (Gordon) has a wonderful husband named Joseph. She has a blog, Trust. Lean, Seek and is working on becoming what God is calling her to. She has a bachelor's in psychology and hopes to one day pursue a degree in biblical counseling. Rebecca loves to be in nature, especially in springtime, and she loves to travel. She has a loving family and hopes one day to have children of her own.
This article is part of our prayer resources meant to inspire and encourage your prayer life when you face uncertain times. Remember, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us, and God knows your heart even if you can't find the words to pray.
Prayers for Healing
Morning Prayers
Prayers for Family
Prayers for Surgery
Prayers for Strength
Night Prayers Before Bed
Prayers for Protection
The Lord's Prayer: Our Father
