Where Does Your Help Come From? By Lisa Burkhardt Worley
Do you seek godly counsel when perplexed about a situation? It’s important to reach out to other Christians when you’re not sure how to proceed. Proverbs 15:22 says, “Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed.” I did that this past week. I needed some advice about a couple of scenarios I was facing so I sought counsel from long-time sister friends. They gave the exact same direction, which in my mind was a confirmation of what I was already thinking.
But when we are struggling, our help shouldn’t only come from our pals. Sometimes it’s a natural tendency to run to our friends first—we long for human conversation, a person on the other end of the phone line. We crave their discernment, however, our all-knowing loving God, who knows the number of hairs on our heads, wants first fruits. He desires for us to take our confusion, worries, and relationships to him before anyone else. Isaiah 2:22 says, “Stop trusting in mere humans, who have but a breath in their nostrils. Why hold them in esteem?”
The book of Hosea is written to God’s chosen ones, the Israelites, and reveals the Lord’s broken heart because His children have turned to others besides Him. They have embraced idols and worshiped other gods. The one true God feels like He’s been cheated on and because of that, pronounces judgment for the Israelites’ unfaithfulness. He reminds them in Hosea 14:8, “O Israel, stay away from idols! I am the one who answers your prayers and cares for you. I am like a tree that is always green; all your fruit comes from me.”
Where does our help come from? “My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth” (Psalm 121:1).
I know it’s difficult when we can’t see God face-to-face and we can’t reach out and touch Him, but over the years, I’ve found Him so faithful to provide direction.
If I’m not supposed to proceed in a certain direction, I ask Him to block it.
He does.
If I am supposed to move forward, I pray for His favor.
He gives it.
He places people in my path, His Holy Spirit’s voice in my spirit, and the words of the Bible often leap off the page when He’s speaking. I know He cares about the details of my life, just as He cares about your specifics.
The next time you have a problem,, it’s important to ask other believers for advice, but always remember that no one knows you better than your heavenly Father. Check in first to His divine Help Desk.