Have you ever found yourself in a situation so desperate, so traumatic, so fearful, or so burdensome that the only prayer you can utter is, “Help me Lord!”? These words have been spoken millions of times by believers and unbelievers alike. Have you ever considered what you are truly asking when you ask the Lord for help? You may be looking for strength, wisdom, endurance, answers, peace, healing, forgiveness, restoration, or possibly escape. In honesty, what you might be hoping is for God to bring about an acceptable, immediate resolution to your desperate situation. One that will cause the least discomfort to you.

The story that is told in Mark 9:14 – 29 is about a man seeking healing for his son. The disciples had tried to cast out the demon to bring about healing, but they failed. The man, in desperation, pleads with Jesus and says, “if thou canst do anything, have compassion on us, and help us.” (v. 22) This story is a good illustration of how we sometimes approach prayer. Desperation can incite faith and doubt in the same moment.

“And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child. And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us. Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.” Mark 9:21-24

Jesus first addresses the man’s doubt by saying, “if thou canst believe,” and then reminds him that, “all things are possible to him that believeth.” Without reading too much into the content of the story, it is possible that the disciple’s inability to cast out the demon could have caused the man to doubt the power of Jesus as well. Jesus was teaching those on the scene and every reader of the Bible that faith in Him allows us to trust Him with the impossible.

The man, immediately rebuked, uttered these words revealing his heart, “Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.” This man’s prayer is an admission that our faith is imperfect at times and we need God’s help to strengthen it.

It is true that our circumstances can cast a veil of doubt making it difficult to believe that God will indeed hear our prayers, let alone, help us in our time of need. As Jesus pointed out to the father in this passage, that doubt in Jesus’ ability to heal his son was not the real issue, but rather to trust God who can do the humanly impossible. During a trial that induces a “Help me!” prayer, we tend to suffer from gospel amnesia. We suddenly forget all of God’s promises that we have read so faithfully and repeatedly over the years. Whitney wrote these thoughts in his book, Praying the Bible.

You are taking the words that originated in the heart and mind of God and circulating them through your heart and mind back to God. By this means His words become the wings of your prayers.
– Donald S. Whitney

Through this method of prayer, your faith and trust will begin to dissolve your doubts.

I have been challenged over the last couple of years to pray Scripture, which has helped me to acknowledge and rely on the truth of God’s promises as I bring my petitions before the Lord. This discipline has encouraged me to meditate on and proclaim my trust in a holy God who is able to do above all that I ask or think (Eph. 3:20). It brings to remembrance God’s word to help me pray and walk in the light of His truth. My prayers have evolved from:

“Help me! Give me strength, God.” to, “Let me rely on your strength that you have given me when I am weak.” (Ps. 73:26)

“Help me! Give me wisdom.” to, “Let me seek and act upon your wisdom, rather than relying on my own.” (Prov. 3:5)

“Help me! Take this fear from me.” to, “You tell me that even when I am fearful, I can still trust you, and that is what I want to do, so my fears do not keep me from obeying you.” (Ps. 56:3-4)

“Help me! I can’t do this.” to, “There is no way that I can handle this in my own power and strength, but I am glad that you have given me the power and strength that I need right now.” (Phil. 4:13; 2 Tim. 1:7)

“Help me! I am all alone in this.” to, “I know that you are right here with me and I am not alone.” (Heb. 13:5)

“Help me! I know the right thing to do, but I just can’t, Lord.” to, “You have given me all things that pertain to life and godliness, so I know that I can because of your divine nature.” (2 Pet. 1:3-4)

“Help me! Don’t take my loved one away.” to, “Lord, your ways are best, and I trust your will to be done for your glory. Help me to accept your will.” (1 John 5:14-15).

So many times our prayers of, “Help me, Lord!” are unbalanced with much emphasis on the perceived dutiful obligation that the Lord has to His children to make everything right and good in our life, and little emphasis on our part to trust and have faith in an all-powerful God. I have met many people who have lost faith in a God, because they determined that God did not help them when they cried out. Maybe our next cry to the Lord for help should echo this father in the Scriptures who said, “help mine unbelief.”

I am, by no means, saying that asking for help in your time of need is wrong. In fact, it is encouraged throughout Scripture. However, let me encourage you to align your cry for help with “the heart and the mind of God”. Prayer is our means of communing with our Lord and Savior, and we are asked to bring our cares to Him by prayer and supplication (Phil. 4:6). Grace and mercy to handle our trials are obtained through a humble spirit in prayer (1 Pet. 5:5).

“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16

Let me encourage you to give more attention to your prayers to your loving heavenly Father, who has given us everything, including His Son. Don’t be so bold to think that He would withhold from you what you need in your most despairing circumstances. Focus on what He has already told you in His Word and believe it to be true. His Word is Truth! (Jn. 17:17)