By: John McCann, Edited by: Emily Hellman
« Back to Devotions PageHELP! Can anyone hear me? Where is my help in time of trouble? Where is my god? My problems are real. At times my thoughts take me to troublesome places. In the dimly-lit alleys of my mind I encounter “gangs” of depression and low self worth. HELP! I cry, but no one comes running. I hear the words of Elijah taunting me, much like he mocked the worshipers of Baal when, after trying everything, their “god” did not accept their sacrifice on Mount Carmel. (1 Kings 18) “Cry aloud for your god is meditating, or he is busy, or he is on a journey or perhaps he is sleeping and must be awakened…but there was no voice, no one answered, and no one paid attention.” (Verses 27-29) HELP, I shout, but no one hears. Of a wimpy god, I have no need.
A fight results in bruises and sores. The cuts and bruises on my mental and emotional body sting and ache, but only the tears show. Inwardly beaten down, and reeling from the painful encounter, my mind threatens to shut-down. Once again, I have been defeated by these scrappy, inner street-fighters. I sit cowering in the filth of my ruin, as passersby look at me with frozen faces, cold and callused. They are not alarmed to see another go down in defeat. These icy souls have given up the fight and embraced the lies long ago. “You are nobody. Worthless, that’s what you are!”
But, there are others. Not everyone has succumbed to the power of the posse. There are a few who reach for my hand. They see this beaten-down soul and in their eyes I a flash of understanding. They seem to say, “I recognize what you’re going through, I fight too. Today was not my time to battle, but I understand. I, too, have bled the tears of defeat. Hold on. Hold on. Help IS on the way.” I can barely mutter a whisper out of my despair, and at this point… of a wimpy god, I have no need.
With my last ounce of strength, I cry out, just before I give up completely. God. My God. Help me. Deliver me from this emotional and spiritual death that surrounds me, from the flood of the ungodly and now the sorrows that persist in my mind. In my distress I call to you, Lord of the Heavens. Help me. Then, His presence draws near, and I feel Him binding up my broken spirit.
6 He heard my voice from His temple,
And my cry came before Him, even to His ears.
7 Then the earth shook and trembled;
The foundations of the hills also quaked and were shaken,
Because He was angry.
8 Smoke went up from His nostrils,
And devouring fire from His mouth;
Coals were kindled by it.
9 He bowed the heavens also, and came down
With darkness under His feet.
10 And He rode upon a cherub, and flew;
He flew upon the wings of the wind.
11 He made darkness His secret place;
His canopy around Him was dark waters
And thick clouds of the skies.
12 From the brightness before Him,
His thick clouds passed with hailstones and coals of fire.
13 The LORD thundered from heaven,
And the Most High uttered His voice,
Hailstones and coals of fire.[a]
14 He sent out His arrows and scattered the foe,
Lightnings in abundance, and He vanquished them.
15 Then the channels of the sea were seen,
The foundations of the world were uncovered
At Your rebuke, O LORD,
At the blast of the breath of Your nostrils.
16 He sent from above, He took me;
He drew me out of many waters.
17 He delivered me from my strong enemy,
From those who hated me,
For they were too strong for me.
18 They confronted me in the day of my calamity,
But the LORD was my support.
19 He also brought me out into a broad place;
He delivered me because He delighted in me.
Psalms 18: 6-19 NKJV
Praise God! Praise to my GOD! He has delivered me from the violent gangs that seek to kill, steal and destroy my life! He has been proven as the great warrior GOD! HE has declared his protection for you too! My GOD is NOT a wimpy GOD. I am his son and He is angry at all who seek to harm me. He will bring all of heaven to protect me. What about you? Do you pray to a wimpy god? Why?
Questions from a powerful God:
1. Are you bloody from a spiritual battle? When did you cry out to ME for help?
2. Why are you walking the streets alone?
3. Isn’t time to walk with me? Isn’t time to embrace the power of the almighty GOD?
Prayer for Power in GOD
Almighty, powerful, warrior GOD, you are angry at those to seek to take my life. I am yours, bought with the price of your Son, Jesus Christ! I am yours. Take me and possess me. Live in me. I am your vessel; move me within your army. Place in and around me, your presence. Direct my eyes, this body, and fill my mind with your thoughts and desires. You are my POWERFUL creator God. – Amen.
