Helpless Without Help

Many rash generalizations are made about people needing to pull themselves up by the bootstraps, to stop being dependent, but I really don’t think anyone wants to be helpless. I know I don’t. I like to try and do things by myself first before I admit I might need help with things that are technologically over my head, physically beyond my strength - or anything to do with finance and numbers. I think my sensibilities lie closer to farmer-stock than city-dwellers, even though I have never lived on a farm. I learned to rotate tires and change spark plugs in high school (okay I actually only did each one once, and it wasn’t exactly my idea, but still I got my fingers dirty and I’m able to pound my chest in conquest). Of course, if I reduced my pride and learned to have a healthier dependence upon God, I might surprise myself with what could be accomplished.

“Show me a helpless person and I will show you an angry person. But show me a person whose heart, soul, mind, and strength is fixed upon loving an Almighty God, and I’ll show you someone who realizes that he or she is never helpless. And when we realize that we are never helpless, then we can also do that second part, continuing to do good—showing that we’re different—even when everything around seems to be going bad. It may not be a piece of cake. But with time, and prayer, and courage…it’s possible.” – Sermon of the Month, Eastminster Presbyterian Church, Dallas, Texas

My prayer for the congregation?

Almighty God, Your acts are life-giving and strengthening. You work continually for goodness and righteousness. O God, at times we feel helpless to the immensity of our national and global issues and are tempted to fall into a state of apathy or non-involvement. Let us combine our sense of can-do with your wisdom of how-to, furthering goodness, one step at a time. Let others see the difference in the way we approach problems with courage, focus, prayer and reliance on our gifts united with your will. Because of your grace we are different and have a sense of peace and conviction when a more reasonable emotion could be fear and anger. Let our reality be grounded in you. Through you all things are possible! Amen.