Help Me, Jesus

Try as I might to feel otherwise, I was worrying about the what-ifs of a particular situation.

I was struggling, chasing my tail, vacillating between praying for God’s will to be done and foolishly wanting to ensure that my own will is done.

Every time the situation comes to mind, I need to pray about it, I thought.

A good plan, I suppose. But it actually added to my anxiousness, what with wondering what to pray and trying to “take every thought captive” when my own strength and ability to do this seemed insufficient.

As if it’s all up to me to get a handle on my fears and emotions.

In more than one passage, the Bible tells us that God knows our thoughts and the intentions of our hearts. That truth could trigger even more pressure and guilt, especially if those same thoughts are consumed with worry and anxiety. But what if we look at it a different way?

For example, when we’re worrying about tomorrow—or stressing out about what do when we start worrying about tomorrow—could it somehow help to remember that God knows every single one of these thoughts in our minds?

I think it could.

We don’t have to reiterate to him what we’re fretting about. He already knows.

We don’t have to find convincing ways to explain it, justify it or analyze it for Him. He already knows.

What we can do—what I’m finding is much easier to do than trying to replace my anxious thoughts with some kind of well-articulated prayer—is simply to say, “Help me, Jesus.”

He knows how I am formed and remembers that I am dust, after all. (Psalm 103:14) He knows that the desire of my heart is not to worry about tomorrow, even as I am doing that very thing.

I don’t know the future, but God does. I don’t know the right path, but He does.

And when I pray, “Help me, Jesus”—having no idea what that help should look like or even what the end result should be— the Holy Spirit intercedes on my behalf before our heavenly Father. (Romans 8:26-27) As one of my pastors said recently,* “It’s as if the Spirit is translating my lousy prayers into what I should really be praying.”

I don’t know about you, but I find that to be extremely comforting.

As my pastor explained, the Holy Spirit knows what God’s will is. When He intercedes for us, He’s always asking in line with God’s will, which means that it’s always for my good and for His glory. And—possibly the best news of all—“What the Spirit asks, we receive.”

In other words, when we cry, “Help me, Jesus,” He does exactly that.

Over and over again, whenever anxious thoughts start piling up in our minds, whenever what-ifs or worst-case scenarios threatens to derail us, whenever we want to write the end of the story but know it isn’t up to us.

“Help me, Jesus.”

This isn’t a one-size-fix-all remedy for fear and anxiety. But in some small-but-tangible way, it’s helping me right now. And maybe it will help you too.

♥ Lois

* Sermon begins around 31-minute mark. The part I’m referencing is near the 49-minute mark.

P.S. I’m linking up this week with #tellhisstory, InstaEncouragements, Recharge Wednesday, Let’s Have Coffee, Inspire Me Monday and Grace & Truth.