I grew up in so many different areas of America – spent significant time in other countries, too – but it seems that the South stuck with me. Even when I was living in Alaska for more than a decade, all it took was a few minutes on the phone with my grandmother and I would slip back into the Southern drawl. The South tends to say and do things a bit… differently.
I bet you’ve heard the phrase, Well bless your heart... and maybe you know that it’s not always a nice thing. The phrase, Lord, help me, is one that’s been on repeat in my mind, but I’m not so sure I’m sincerely asking for help when it skirts through my thoughts.
I wish I could tell you that there’s not a lack of sincerity when those words come out as a heavy sigh, but I’ve noticed that I can get into a bit of a slump from time to time. I’ll throw it out there – Lord, help me – but I’m not really asking for help. I’ll be focusing on the problem, and I’ll know that He should be the first one I turn to, but I still won’t actually be asking Him to help me through whatever it might be.
Maybe you’ve experienced this knee-jerk reaction, too. Something happens that’s not so great and you flippantly spill the words in a frustrated breath, Lord, help me… Y’all, I can’t help but picture Judge Judy rolling her eyes and saying, Lord, help me. Ever notice that in those moments of frustration, talking with God doesn’t always cross your mind right away?
I don’t know about you, but when I’m frustrated or worried, I will examine every tiny little thing that has brought on my troubles or anxiety. I’ll even recognize that I’m doing it while I’m in the middle of it! Then I’ll overthink things just enough for this to become an even more stressful issue than what it was originally. Lord, help me! I’ll fret about the fact that I’m fretting!
I might be saying Lord, help me because of the kids, because of my husband, because of finances, or even because of something as silly as a printer not cooperating with me (sometimes I hate technology)… no matter what it is, I tend to go off the deep end and will try to trace back the issue to something I must have done wrong. See? I overthink things.
But God knows… He hears our Lord, help me sighs… and He addressed them in what is one of my favorite passages of scripture:
“Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?” Matthew 6:26-27 NLT
I have come to love North Carolina and the vast array of bird species (almost 500!) that go from branch to branch with energy that seems unreal. Since there’s such a variety in our area, I’ve come to enjoy watching from the window while sipping my morning coffee. It’s always an entertaining show. The search for food while I become caffeinated – not a bad set-up. And what’s beautiful is that they always seem to get enough to eat.
Not once have I ever seen a bird that looked worried about where to find food. I’ve never seen a bird go without. Even when I’ve found a nest in the yard, I’ve not been able to determine which birds were the previous owners based off of a harried expression.
As I wrote the previous two posts – Take the Pressure Off and Redirected Focus – the passage in Matthew 6 kept calling to me. I couldn’t help picturing stressed out birds, feathers all a mess, eyes bloodshot, and white-knuckling whatever perch they had found themselves to be on.
“And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?” Matthew 6:28-30 NLT
In case you didn’t know, that question about how much faith you have is the same as asking, Why do you trust God so little? Do I trust God? Do I trust His Word over the noise of the world? Do I believe that He’ll keep His promises? Do I trust Him so little that I sigh Lord, help me, but I’m not even going to Him for help?
A pastor friend of ours recently stated that it’s not about having the perfect words to form a prayer, but it’s about having a surrendered heart. And I have to ask myself: Am I not going to God with the Lord, help me’s because I’m not surrendered to Him? And why in the world would I choose to not be surrendered to Him?
“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” Matthew 6:31-33 NLT
The question from the previous two posts is still something I’m rolling around, but let me present it to you a little differently: Do you have faith in God’s faithfulness to you? Do you trust Him?
Maybe this is stirring up some ways you feel that God let you down. Something didn’t turn out the way you were praying – a health report, a job promotion, family planning, or a million other things that impact our hearts – do we still choose to trust God?
Last week I mentioned that I wanted to be purposeful in redirecting my focus from the distractions of the world and putting my focus back on God and His constant presence. I also want to be purposeful in choosing to trust His Word. It is supreme – above all other statements or promises, His Word reigns for all time.
Lord, help me… help me to see Your faithfulness. Lord, help me to trust that You alone are forever faithful. Lord, help me to choose to always bring my anxious thoughts, my fretting and worrying, to You. Lord, help me…
And I pray that the Lord will help you… and bless your heart.