Feeling Helpless?
I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come?
My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
Psalm 121:1-2
Do you feel stuck in your current situation? Maybe it’s a relationship that isn’t healthy, a work environment you wish could change, or a self-destructive habit that dominates your life? You feel helpless to make things better.
Feeling helpless is far more common than we want to admit. And if it goes unchecked for too long we become hardened and cynical about the possibility that things can improve. Frustration leads to bitterness and we become convinced that further attempts to change are pointless. Nothing and no one seems to be able to help, so why even try. Psychologists call this ‘learned helplessness.’
So where do we go from here? What can you do today if you’re stuck? You may not, and probably will not, see immediate change in your circumstances. But you do have help, and change can occur. And it begins with you. Scripture offers several truths that will help you today, right where you are.
First, the Lord is present in the midst of what you’re experiencing. So look for him. Pain, frustration and difficulty may obscure our view, but God is there. He has not left your side.
Second, the Lord can and will help you. The One who made heaven and earth is able to help. What you need, he is able to supply. Need wisdom to navigate difficult waters at work? Strength to endure a prolonged hardship in marriage? Courage to make a hard decision? Friends to love, encourage and support you in this journey? He does not magically fix our problems like the genie from Aladdin. But he can and will help you through this season.
Third, you are not alone. No, I’m not repeating my first point. I’m reminding you to pick up your phone and call a friend. Send the text. Write the email. The temptation to isolate from others and hide our struggle is enormous. But there are people around you who care and want to come alongside you. So please, allow your friend, pastor, mentor, or small group to be one of God’s answers to your prayer for help.