The Help Button, April 5
Written by Karen Tripp
“I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth” (Psalm 121:1-2 NIV).
Have you ever sat at your computer going nuts because something is not working right? I have. The smart thing is to click the Help button. But for those of us who do not like to ask for help, there is always that age-old idea: “I think I will just rely on my own understanding.” How is that working out for you? Me? Not so good.
Unfortunately, it’s not just the guidance of computer experts that I avoid. I have been known to avoid guidance from God. How? Easy, really. I just don’t ask for His input. Dumb mistake, yet it is one I seem to repeatedly make. Just like Abram.
Abram was an obedient, godly man who left his homeland when God said, “Follow Me.” Abram completely relied on God’s guidance—until he reached Egypt. Then he decided to do the opposite of today’s verse. Abram relied on his own understanding.
In Genesis chapter twelve we read that Abram asked his wife Sarai to tell the Egyptians she was his sister. He was afraid her beauty would lead them to kill him and take Sarai as their wife. Sarai does as she is told, and Pharaoh takes her to his palace. The result? Abram gets treated great—and God sends a terrible disease to Pharaoh and his household. So, Pharaoh gives Sarai back to Abram and tells them to leave. What a mess.
Do you think if Abram had sought God’s help, the Lord would have come up with a better plan? Oh yeah. I think so.
But God is faithful to Abram. Not only does God continue to lead Abram, He also promises to give Abram’s descendants the Promised Land. God even changes Abram’s name to Abraham and Sarai’s to Sarah to seal the deal. Surely now Abraham knows he can count on God.
Only Abraham makes the same mess AGAIN. Genesis chapter twenty tells us that he and Sarah take a trip to Gerar, and he again tells her to say she’s his sister. You know how this goes: The king takes her to his palace, the whole household becomes sick, and Abraham is kicked out of Gerar. Yuck.
How can Abraham, the Father of Nations and a friend of God, avoid God’s help AGAIN? Fear. Abraham was afraid.
With cancer lurking around your life, you probably have felt frightened. Fear can bring two temptations:
Design your own plan like Abram.
Sit back and let others’ plans determine your course.
Here is the third option: Ask God for help.
Knowing God personally does not remove every fear, but it does give you a precious place to find help. Find the fears that you are afraid to turn over to the Lord, admit you need help and push the biggest “Help button” in the universe—the Lord.
Pray: Heavenly Father, keep me from relying on my own understanding. Give me a hunger to seek Your help FIRST in all things. Amen.
Your Turn: Circle below the items you need God’s help with. Take them persistently and consistently to God in prayer.
“Which treatment do I take?”
“How can I get my family/friends to understand?”
“Who will take care of me if my health gets worse?”
“How will I survive cancer financially?”
“How can I get transportation, medication, basic needs?”
“How can I get rid of the stress? Worry? Fear?”
“How do I work through this ordeal?”
“How do I take care of my caregiver?”
Karen Tripp, MS, LMFT, Cancer Caregiver
Karen is the Executive Director of Cancer Companions, the premiere national Christian cancer ministry (https://www.cancercompanion.org). Her roles have included authoring several Christian books including God is Bigger Than Your Cancer and working as a licensed marriage and family therapist. She is a daughter of a colon cancer survivor. Karen uses her experience to teach how to step into another person’s struggle to help build their faith while strengthening your own.
Cancer Companion’s vision for the future is for every person impacted by cancer to know the hope, love, and grace of Jesus and that every oncology team has included faith in their treatment toolbox. By 2033, Cancer Companions will provide 5 million engagements through cancer prayers, scriptures and interactions to those impacted by cancer. Engagements include; social media outreach, e-newsletters, prayer team requests, 30 days of Cancer Prayer event, and volunteer connections.
To learn more about our ministry and the services we provide visit our website by clicking here.
