Helper of the Helpless.

Have you heard it said, "God helps them who helps themselves?". I have heard this proverb spoken all my life. Some people claim it is in the Bible but they are not correct. What this saying attempts to say is we need to cooperate with the Lord for Him to have our permission to work for our good in our life. I think Augustine said something like this, "The Lord did not need our permission to create us. But the Lord needs our cooperation for His salvation to come into our hearts." This truth is important to remember for we must always do our best to become better people. We can not just ask the Lord to do our salvation all for us without our best effort. St. Paul said it well in Philippians 2:12, "My dear friends, as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence, continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose." Yet, deep spiritual truth always has two sides in this mystery of life. At some times we are forced to admit if we are honest that we are helpless unless the Lord intervenes. This past week when our grandson Owen was struggling to fight against a terrible infection it was a helpless situation. The doctors were debating among themselves what to try to do to stop this aggressive invasion of his body. This moment reminded me that our money, power, connections to expert medical care, and technology does not guarantee that life can be saved. Psalms 72: 12-14, says, "For He will deliver the needy who cry out, the afflicted who have no one to help. He will take pity on the weak and the needy and save the needy from death." We cried out to our Lord when we had no human help for Owen's life to be spared. Thank the Lord that He is the Helper of the Helpless. This is Wednesday, 5/1, and we rejoice that Owen could came home today! He is using a walker and is still on heavy duty medicine but much better. Thanks all of you for praying for the Lord to show His deliverance in Owen's life. Although we must always do our best to solve our problems I do praise the Lord that He is still the Helper of the Helpless. When we face a struggle with anger, jealousy or depression may we always look to Him to help us when we know our strength is all used up.