Help is on the way

POD #29: Help is on the way

When I think about times that I have needed help, and received it from a totally unexpected source, my mind is overwhelmed with the examples.

• Like the time I needed money to get to my friend’s memorial and a customer in the bank met my need as he overheard my plea to the teller.
• Or  the time I worked in child welfare, and an adult foster child who came upon my vehicle broken down on the side of the road.  I had my three kids in the car and couldn’t get a hold of anyone to help me.  Not only did he give us a ride back home, he picked my car up and got it fixed also.  He shared his story with me as we drove and I was in awe of his help.
• Or when I lost my job, and out of no where my husband gets a promotion that he had been trying to get for years that made up my lost income.
• Or unexpected finances coming at just the right time so that I didn’t bounce checks – more times than I care to admit in my early adult life.
• Or words spoken at just the right time to renew my hope and keep me from making permanent decisions based on a temporary set-back.

I do trust that help is on the way when I need it.  I have learned that it doesn’t always come in the way I think it will, or in my timing; but I do believe that help will be there when it is needed.  Because I believe this to be true, I do not spend a lot of time worrying about the “what ifs” the help doesn’t come.

My evidence that help is always on the way is two-fold.  First, I have never had a need go unmet.  Yes, there have been many wants that have not been fulfilled, but I have never had a true need go unmet.  Since I have always had my needs met, I am confident that other needs will be met in the future.

The second, a more valid piece of evidence, is God’s Word:

And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. II Corinthians 9:8

And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19

 I will answer them before they even call to me.  While they are still talking about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers! Isaiah 65:24

I realize that some would argue that there are people in third world country dying because basic needs are not being met, even in our country there are people who are struggling to see their basic needs met.  I think those needs are unmet, not because help isn’t available but because our culture is filled with greed and selfishness.  God generously provides so that we will have plenty left over to share.  When we don’t share what is left over, needs go unmet.  When we ignore that still, small prompting, we rob others of the help they need.  If help is not on the way, either it is not a true need or someone has failed to do their part.