A Very Present Help

Over the past few days, a lot of single women have used Facebook to discuss the topic of my last post, living independently versus living in self-sufficiency. From what I can tell, it seems like most of us agree: Staying on the biblical path is sometimes challenging, sometimes conflicting, and always requires something of us.

It requires humility, but also expectation. Not only do we have to lay aside pride to ask for help when we need it, we have to be expectant that others—including men—will be willing to help us. Both of these attitudes go against our society’s grain, especially when we’ve been single for a long time.

Humility and expectation, however, are also requirements for seeing one of my favorite Scriptural promises, as a single woman, fulfilled: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1). I love to quote this verse in prayer to God whenever I’m in a situation and I don’t know where to get help.

But I have to humbly expect Him to answer that prayer. And every time I do, He does.

He either gives me an idea of what to do or who to call, or He sends someone to help without my having to ask.

There have been days when I’ve felt overwhelmed with the responsibilities of job and house and life that I arrive home to find that someone has mown the yard for me. There are other times when I’ve had to ask for help, whether it’s for a neighbor to examine the smoke-bellowing lawn mower or a friend to fix the towel rod that wouldn’t stay in the wall after I tried to install it myself.

Over and over, He has proven Himself a Very Present Help to me—but in far deeper ways than I’ve expressed here. I’ll talk more about that next time.

In the meantime, what are some examples of how God has been your help?