The most frequent prayer that rolls off my lips is, “Lord Jesus, help me.” Only four short words, it sounds almost too simple or like it doesn’t count as “praying”, but it can be powerful.
Such a humble, basic prayer is perfect for when you are at the end of the rope, too scared or too sick to pray, or too anything for that matter. It’s good for emergency situations as well as when things are just fine. It never hurts to ask God for help as you go about your day or before you even need it!
Any time you call upon the Creator of the universe, you are tapping into the most immense power possible. How can you go wrong? Worst case, nothing will happen and you’ll be talking to yourself. Pascal’s Wager surmises: if there is no God, you haven’t lost anything by believing. If there is a God, you’ve lost everything, including eternal happiness. Odds say it’s worth believing for anyone who has doubts.
Normally, prayer doesn’t cause God to swoop down like a Magic Genie and immediately answer all our requests or solve all our problems. I wish that were the case, but much of the time it’s hard to tell if He is helping at all. And some things just take time. So we must trust and have faith and in the meantime it gives us the strength and courage to go on. And it gives us hope. There is a lot to be said for hope. Hope is the fuel that keeps us going.
I am reminded of the 1960’s TV show I Dream of Jeannie. Even Jeannie wasn’t always able to get her Master, Major Anthony Nelson, out of trouble immediately, every time. She would sometimes be tied up in a situation or get locked in her bottle and other times she chose to ignore Major Nelson to teach him a lesson. Sometimes God needs to teach us a lesson.
But every now and then there are occasions where God does swoop down pretty quickly. One such time was when I was in the hospital popping out my youngest. I was in a drug-induced stupor but I did have a spiritual moment when things became too much to bear and I screamed aloud, “Oh Jesus help me!” A few moments later my daughter was born and the doc answered, “He did.” God spoke to me through the doctor and what a miraculous relief it was!
Plenty of people in the Bible are found calling out to Jesus for help, (not just women in childbirth). One of my favorite passages is when Peter was walking on the water and he started sinking and cried, “Lord, save me!” (Matt. 14:30) It was a short “prayer” out of desperation. Sometimes we are desperate.
Jesus Himself cried out to the Father in desperation for help before His crucifixion. We can take consolation that even Jesus, the Son of God, didn’t get the magic genie answer He was hoping for. He still had to suffer and die before there was a resurrection. (Luke 22:42-44)
God is our Father and wants to help us if we cry out to Him, just as earthly fathers help their children. If you painted a beautiful picture, you wouldn’t want your work ruined or destroyed. Just as God has created all of us as His beautiful works of art, His heart longs to alleviate our misery when we look to Him. He is always waiting, always ready to save us with open arms.
“Lord Jesus, help me” is a simple way to set our minds on God and remember He is with us in all the moments of life. It helps remind me that I am not in charge and I need His help. I belong to God, I am His. Constantly submitting to Him keeps my ego in check and opens me up to receiving the help and blessings He wishes to bestow upon me.
Apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:5)
So next time you need help, whether you are having a crisis or just a normal day, think of Jesus. Ask Him for help and allow His power to flow through you. “Lord Jesus, help me.”
