“Don’t put your life in the hands of experts who know nothing of life, of salvation life. Mere humans don’t have what it takes; when they die, their projects die with them. Instead, get help from the God of Jacob, put your hope in God and know real blessing! God made sky and soil, sea and all the fish in it. He always does what he says—he defends the wronged, he feeds the hungry. God frees prisoners—he gives sight to the blind, he lifts up the fallen. God loves good people, protects strangers, takes the side of orphans and widows, but makes short work of the wicked.” (Psalm 146:3-9 The Message Bible)
Tuesday, I went to a local hospital, taking someone who needed help getting to an appointment, and visiting, while I was waiting, someone who was hospitalized and receiving help from well-trained healthcare providers. As usual, I took a time out to find a place to sit on the main floor, found a seat where I can see folks from every walk of life being helped by a caring care taker. The caretakes were at times family members: children of their older parents, caring sons, spouses, daughters, sons, or other relatives. There were the special caretakers from organizations dedicated to assisting senior citizens who needed help that family members had refrained from giving or were unable to provide. The faces of the senior citizens had a range of expressions, ranging from smiles that revealed hope and there were faces with a lack of expression, communicating a sense of hopelessness and disgruntlement with their inability to help themselves.
Sitting and people watching, I saw all kinds of patients who were being helped. Yes, as I sat in the chair where I was observing people coming in and out, I was moved to thank God for the helpers immediately. That’s real “immediate care!” My immediate care prayer was not too long, not at all. But in the short time that I prayed, I thanked the Lord for the professional care workers at all levels, the doctors, nurses, technicians, aides, and transport personnel who provide help to others! I also thanked God that there are non-paid people who are the ones providing help out of compassion, knowing that the Lord would be pleased with them and would bless them for being helpers. However, the latter, receiving blessings was not the motive. The motive was compassion for those in need of help.
As I prayed, I even thanked God for those who provided help, who, based on the look on their faces, and there disgruntled disposition, seemed like being a help was a burden that they did not sign up for. Perhaps the Lord would change their hearts. In short, let’s just say I thanked God for all the helpers and help for the helpers who needed help. Do you know what? You should take a time out and do the very same thing, right now! Thank God and ask the Lord to bless the helpers. (Read on after you have thanked the Lord for those He provided in many places and spaces beyond the hallways and healing rooms found in health care facilities.)
There is one more thing I want to ask of you, something that came to my mind when I visited the Hospital Chapel. That is something I usually do, if time permits. Actually, I have stopped by the chapels of most hospitals in the area over a stretch of time. I have even used it as a place to counsel helpers who were growing weary and in some cases, they were about ready to give in because of the prognosis given to those they were helping. I remember doing a one-on-one memorial service for a person’s lost loved one, because no service would be planned for a later time.
Most of the time when I stop by the chapels, no one is there. It is vacant. The emptiness of the chapels made me wonder, “How many of the helpers that I saw really turned to “The Help. ” I thought, “How many family members turn to the Father above who is the most dependable Helper I know?” I wondered, “How many turned to God, the One described in our opening verses?” Look at them again and I’m sure that you will agree that God is the best Helper you can turn to, whether you are the one in need or if you need help in helping others. I know I am right about it!
It is not a designated “Helpers Day,” but it is something we should do every day, thank God for them! Every day, including today, we should take a timeout of our busy day to go to God in prayer and thank Him for helpers, and especially express our thanks to Him, for being “The Helper.” Thank Him whether you are the one being helped or if you are the one providing help, for He is the One, God is the One who will renew your strength. God is the One who will sustain your optimistic hope for a brighter day. God is the One who will put you in a better state of mind! So, be thoughtful and thankful! Thank God for the Helper He is this Thursday, friends! Be assured that I will do the same. Oh, remember the verse below too which will remind you of “The Help!” Be blessed!
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1 King James Version)
Still committed to the climb,
Mark L. King