The Lord, Our Help

I'd watered some plants with this little pitcher, set it back in place still half full, and then accidentally knocked it over as I turned away.

My mother often asks for help from the Lord. Her requests range from an honest, "Dear Jesus please be my help," to a vexed "Lord help me" when she's under duress.

Mom has sprained a muscle in her upper back, and it causes her pain. This morning I gave her a back rub and she enjoyed the comfort of my ministrations, as evidenced by her little sounds of happy relief. However, even as she relaxed her tense muscles she said, "Lord Jesus, I would appreciate any help at all that you could give me."

Later I was on my knees helping her put on her shoes when she prayed aloud, "Lord if you could send me some help I'd sure be grateful."

I always have to repress my urge to reply, "What am I, chopped liver???"  (Wikipedia says that chopped liver was once served exclusively as a side dish, and tended to be overlooked; thus the origin of the phrase).

We are making wrenchingly emotional decisions on my mother's behalf as we work to prepare her for nursing home care, and of late I've emerged from my devotion time each morning still in a "Lord help me" frame of mind. Mom's obliviousness to the ways the Lord helps her through me is due to her Alzheimer's disease, but I wonder what I might use as an excuse?

This morning, though, I had a change of heart. Fresh from my mother's lack of awareness of my efforts on her behalf, it occurred to me that I treat God in the same way. And so I prayed, "Lord, open my eyes to the ways you help me."

A little while later I knocked over a pitcher that was half full of water. A thick, white hand towel just happened to be on the table next to the pitcher, and I grabbed it and easily cleaned up the spill before the flow reached the table's edge. I had cleaned up almost all of the water before the realization dawned: I'd been helped! One might even say the Lord knew I was going to need that towel and provided for me ahead of time. So before I cleaned the last little puddle, I snapped the photo above. I was able to stop myself before I uttered a resigned "Lord help me," and instead I prayed, "Lord, thank you for this towel!"

An expectation of the Lord's present, practical help is a marker of faith in His ability to supply all our needs.  Sometimes it isn't our circumstances that need changed, but our perspectives.  If we look for the ways God has helped us, we will find them, because God is indeed our help.

Father, please open our eyes to Your provision. Thank You for being our help!

We wait in hope for the Lord;
    he is our help and our shield.

In him our hearts rejoice,
    for we trust in his holy name.

May your unfailing love be with us, Lord,
    even as we put our hope in you.

Psalm 33:20-22