Tears streamed down her little chubby cheeks as she cried in frustration, “I cannot get this straw open.” My younger daughter was trying to get her straw out of the plastic wrap to enjoy her apple juice box. My husband, older daughter, and I were all sitting around the table with my youngest gift, preparing to eat our traditional Friday night take-out meal. Each of us offered to help her in her battle of getting the straw open. Clearly, in this match, baby girl had 0 points, and the straw had 10 points. That tricky straw kept scoring on my child!  

She tried opening the plastic with her teeth. She tried bending the straw, and she tried pulling it open, but none of her techniques seemed to work. The more she tried, the more difficult the task seemed to be for my tenacious three-year-old. The tears and whines of frustration persisted. The three of us continued to offer assistance, but my determined daughter was relentless in her plight. Finally, she surrendered, turned to my husband, and said, “Daddy, will you help me?” Guess what happened next? You guessed it! Daddy stepped in, opened the straw, allowed her to see how he opened it, placed it in her juice box, and my daughter was able to enjoy her fruity beverage. The tears and frustration ceased, and we were able to go about enjoying our dinner together.  

“So, what in the world do apple juice boxes and plastic-wrapped straws have to do with me?” you might be asking. I am so glad that you asked! In this life, we have troubles. We have trials, and we have challenges. Obstacles present themselves in many forms and can leave us with the same tears and frustrations my daughter expressed. You may be struggling through a trial right now and be trying to figure out how you will get that tricky situation under control or conquered in your strength. You may be tossing and turning at night, attempting to figure out a solution. Someone may have offered to help you, but you might have declined the assistance. You might be thinking that you do not need help and are defeated. I have some good news! You do not have to be defeated. There is help for you (and me)!

Psalm 46: 1 reminds us that “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (KJV). We are also reminded through the assuring words of Jesus in John 16:33, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (NIV). The first portion of Psalm 54:4 also echoes the sentiment that God is our helper. All these passages confirm that our heavenly Father’s many roles, God is our helper. The more we recognize Him as our helper, the more confidence, peace, and rest we can receive. For God to help us, however, some action steps are required on our part. 

Matthew 7:7 states, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” (NKJV). Our Father, God, is always willing to help us when we are in need. We must ask. Sometimes like my child, we try to do things independently and will not let help assist us in our time of need. At times, we let our ego, pride, and will get in the way when Our Father is sitting there ready and willing to step in to help us. We do not ever have to try to do things in our strength. While we always need the help of Our Father, this year has especially brought so many unique trials and challenges that we NEED to let our Father help us. 

We need Him every second, minute, and hour of each day. Whether we need help serving as a teacher to our children while they learn digitally at home while we try to work from home and perform at the level that we used to accomplish while we were in the office with no distractions, we need His help. Whether needing help with making ends meet because we were laid off and not knowing where our next source of income or food will come from, we need His help.  

Whether needing help coping with missing physical and social interaction with our family, friends, church members, or colleagues and longing for help handling isolation, we need His help. Whether it is grieving the loss of a loved one due to the pandemic or another reason and not even having a traditional homegoing service, we need His help. Finally, whether we need help coping with all the political and social turmoil we all have witnessed at a heightened level this season, we need His help. 

The list goes on and on, so I challenge you to fill in whatever your juice box and straw situation is for which you need the help of God, our Father. He is with you, and He is willing to help. He wants to help! You must ask, and He will step in. You can get His help by first recognizing that you need His aid. Next, you can take time in prayer and Bible study to hear from Him. The more you meditate on His word for confirmation that He is your helper, the more confidence and peace you can receive that you do have what you need to make it through every one of your circumstances. Finally, I encourage you to receive His help.

One other glimpse of imagery that I saw in my interaction with my daughter was, not only did my husband offer up help and eventually open the straw, but my older daughter and I were also there to help. Although the three of us offered our assistance because we knew that she was struggling, my precious unwavering child declined. This piece of the story also reflects not only the Holy Trinity (God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit) as our helpers, but it also reflects that we can reach out for help to our trusted brothers and sisters within our communities.  

God thought help was so important that even in the beginning, the latter portion of Genesis 2:18 states, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.” (NKJV). God knew that Adam would need assistance, so He created Eve. Just as God knew this to be true for Adam, He knows that to be true for you. You do not have to struggle alone. There is always help. Sometimes the enemy will try to convince you otherwise, but help is available. As a matter of fact, support is available 24/7 through the word of God and prayer.  

Reaching out for help can also be done through various other methods. Whether it is reaching out to your best friend or reaching out to a counselor, help is there. Whether you reach out to your neighbor or call out to your mother, help is available. Whether it is logging on to a virtual church service, online support group, telehealth therapy session, or zoom gathering, help is just a fingertip away. 

The excellent news is that we do not have to be defeated despite all the challenges and trials we face. We are not alone and do not have to operate as if we are. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are with us and have blessed each of us with friends, family, and community resources to aid us in our time of need. The only requirements on our part are to ask for help and allow those God has placed in our lives to do just that. Help.  

Reflect & Relate

What are some areas that you have been struggling in where you feel you must do it yourself, but doing it in your strength has led to feelings of defeat or frustration?

In what ways can you reach out to your heavenly Father, God, to help you in your time of need?

Who else can you identify as a source of support and help, and how will you connect with your support system today to receive help?

Let Us Pray

Dear God, my Father, thank you for being my very present help in times of trouble. Thank you for reminding you that I can ask and receive, seek and find, and knock and the door shall be opened for me. Please help me also see who you have placed in my life to call on for help. Reveal resources that are available to me in my time of need. Please forgive me when I find myself letting my ego, fear, and pride get in the way of taking advantage of the help that you promised in your word is readily available to me. I love you, and thank you for being such an amazing father, helper, and God! In the name of Jesus, Amen.

If you haven’t already, I invite you to check out my new book, “A Glimpse of Our Father: Lessons Parenthood Reveals for All of God’s Children,” for more inspiration and encouragement.

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