Praying Girls By Sheila WalshSample

Day Three

“God, You are my helper!”

Scripture: Psalm 46:1; Proverbs 18:10; Isaiah 41:10

When was the last time you got yourself into a sticky situation and really, really needed help to get out of it? If you’ve ever tried to carry too many things upstairs at once, or waited until the last minute to study for a test, or accidentally locked yourself out of the house, or broken a treasured vase that belonged to your grandmother, then you know exactly what I’m talking about. Sometimes we desperately need help. And we need it now. 

The book of Psalms, which is in the Old Testament, was originally a songbook for the Jewish people. Each psalm was a song they would sing to God, and many times the verses and choruses would give them strength when things felt hard. Psalm 46:1, for example, says this: 

God is our refuge and strength,

always ready to help in times of trouble. 

Long ago, the people singing this song needed God’s help to find food during a famine or to be healed from some awful disease or to escape their enemies, who were trying to enslave and even kill them. These days you might sing the song for completely different reasons. Maybe things have gotten sideways between you and a close friend. Maybe you’ve been having horrible headaches lately and can’t figure out why. Maybe your confidence has been sinking, and you’re not sure how to pull it back up. 

Maybe math class is a nightmare.

Maybe your dad just lost his job.

Maybe your friend told someone your secret.

Maybe you don’t agree with your parents’ decision not to let you have a phone.

Whatever is bugging you today, you can sing this debugging song: “God is my refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.” 

God is near! He is able! He longs to help you in times of need. 

God, it is definitely good news that You are available to help me whenever I find myself needing help. Thank You for taking my needs seriously and for restoring my hope. Amen.