My Help Comes From the Lord
“I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.”
Psalm 121:1-2
I recently came across a video clip from a well-known, widely popular news source and in the closing of this particular segment I was watching, the anchor ended with this statement;
“If you believe in one another, and if you do the right thing for yourself and your community, things will get better in this country. You don’t need help from above. It’s within us.”
As I listened to his words, I felt a pang in my chest. Seeing and hearing a statement like this broadcasting through the airwaves in our country gave such a clear representation of the cultural climate we’re living in. As I thought more about it, I realized his soundbite brought to light two things that didn’t sit well within me:
The blatant disregard of our need for God.
As this particular anchor said, “We don’t need help from above,” and proceeded to point upwards, my initial thought was the scripture above from Psalm 121. As Christ-followers, we not only recognize our deep and desperate need for God, but we also place our trust in Him wholeheartedly. We depend on Him in every sense of our being. Our help actually does come from above. Not only is calling on God through prayer the lifeline of the believer, but it is blasphemy to suggest that there is any other reality.
“And so I tell you, every kind of sin and slander can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.”
Matthew 12:32-33
The problem is, this wasn’t just a singular statement from one person’s paradigm. More and more, this is the perspective of a vast population all around the world. One of the greatest lies the enemy tries to convince us of is that we can do this alone, that we are somehow self-sufficient apart from God’s unconditional love, mercy, grace, forgiveness and provision.
Droves of people have believed the lie that they can get through this life in their own strength and abilities and because of that, sacrificed the blessing of walking in all that God has for them. Instead of living “more-than” lives, they settle for “just enough.” But, because they don’t have an existing relationship with Jesus, many of them don’t recognize the void deep within them that only He can fill. Instead, they attempt to fill that void with anything and everything that makes them happy.
Isn’t happiness the goal? To do what makes you, as an individual, happy and fulfilled? It doesn’t actually matter how you go about accomplishing that as long as “you do you” and follow your heart, right? That’s the second part of the lie the enemy whispers in our ear. He inundates us with messages of self-love as the pathway to true and lasting happiness. Satan suggests this is the way to “find yourself” and never have to make apologies along the way. But, that message is contrary to the one that Scripture teaches us.
Matthew 16:24 says, “Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.’” This means that all of those selfish desires and ambitions are to be denied if they don’t edify and honor and serve Him.
We have to be so aware of our complete and utter dependence on Jesus that everything we say and do reflects that. Even when everything we read and watch tells us otherwise, we have a responsibility to call out what is false even if it’s popular because what is popular isn’t always what’s true.
The thought that we alone can be the difference.
There is a belief that it is “within us,” as the broadcaster claimed in this anchor tag. You know what is actually in us? Deceitful hearts. Sinful nature. Selfish motives. None of which would bring us any closer to peace if given the chance in our own abilities. We see the chaos of the world currently all because people want to solve issues that are much bigger than themselves by themselves. It doesn’t work.
“The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?”
Jeremiah 17:9
What people sometimes miss is that we are all sinners who have fallen short and who have to turn from sin daily. There is no good in us outside of God. You never arrive to a coveted level of sinlessness where you can do no wrong and the entire purpose of your existence is to serve yourself. The world preaches that you are what matters most and therefore you can do it all, have it all and be it all and you don’t need anyone else to do it. As Christians, we know that to be completely untrue and, truth be told, entirely unappealing. I don’t want to do anything apart from God. I know that when the hard times come and the darkness is suffocating, He is the one who will equip me for battle because there is no good in me.
“For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.”
Romans 7:18
I don't’ know where you are in life right now. I don’t know what your relationship with Jesus looks like. I don’t know if you’ve fully embraced your need for Him. What I do know is that the promises of God are “yes and amen” and that the countenance of God is unchanging.
He is for you.
He is with you.
He is your protector.
He is your refuge.
He is your strength.
He is your peace.
He is your friend.
He is the lover of your soul.
He knows exactly what you need when you need it and He is faithful. He has covered your past, protects your present, and has more than enough grace waiting in your future if you’ll choose Him.