Helplessness in Prayer
Hear me, LORD, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.
Psalm 86:1
My ancestors braved the Atlantic Ocean as some of the earliest settlers of what later developed into the United States of America. Their children navigated rivers, mountains, and extreme weather in their covered wagons before eventually settling in the southern states. Once there, they cleared the trees and tilled the ground. They planted, harvested, and hauled the produce to market by mule-drawn wagons. In short, I come from hearty stock!
I think that must be one reason why I so dislike the feeling of helplessness. Surely there must be something “I” can do! Because of that, three excerpts from Prayer by Ole Hallesby profoundly challenge me:
“Prayer is the last resort all throughout one’s life. Only he who is helpless can truly pray…. Helplessness becomes the quiet, sustaining power of our prayer life. Therefore, prayer consists simply in telling God, day by day, of our helplessness: to believe, love, hope, serve, sacrifice, suffer, read the Bible, pray, & struggle against our sinful nature.”
“Your helplessness is your best prayer. It calls from your heart to the heart of God with greater effect than all your uttered pleas.”
“…thank God for the feeling of helplessness which He has given you. It is one of the greatest gifts which God can impart to us. For it is only when we are helpless that we open our hearts to Jesus and let Him help us in our distress, according to His grace and mercy.”
Beginning today, I choose to experience my feelings of helplessness with a new awareness of authenticity and intimacy that it brings to my times of prayer with my Savior.
Father, thank you for reminding me that I do not need to fear the feeling of helplessness. Remembering that helplessness calls from my heart to Your heart, to Your grace, and to Your mercy. In the name of your Son, Jesus, I pray, amen.
Linda Lesniewski
