Dear One,
Hubby and I were chuckling the other day as he attempted to get up off the floor. He’s getting closer to the “Help! I’ve fallen and I can’t get up” stage of life. And while I tease him rather relentlessly about this, I realize I’m right there with him but maybe in a bit of a different way.
Join me in Psalm 41? It’s titled, “The Psalmist in Sickness, Complains …”
Gotta love the names of these Psalms!
The writer, David, says of his enemies:
“They imagine the worst for me, saying …
‘He will never get up from the place where he lies …’
But may You have mercy on me, Lord; raise me up.”
(Psalm 41:7-10)
It didn’t take long until David (and the Holy Spirit) had me wondering:
- Where is the place I lie?
- And what am I saying about it?
I’m wondering this because sometimes I’m my own worst enemy. Who needs others to defeat us when we can do it all by ourselves? Seriously.
So I’m asking:
- Am I (like David’s enemies) imagining and then speaking and believing the worst about me and the conditions that have laid me low?
- Do I hold out any hope for my rising?
- Am I saying of myself, “I’ll never get up from this place?”
Some serious questions to consider.
Meanwhile, David makes a plea to God:
“Extend Your gracious hand and help me up.” (v.10)
Yes, please.
Friend, there’s a difference between not being able to get up on our own and believing we’ll never be able to get up, period. So David asks for a helping hand. Extend Your gracious hand and help me up.
Jesus did this all the time – extended a gracious hand, that is. And He’s doing it still, for all who’ve fallen and can’t get up on their own.
To Peter’s Mother-in-law, “lying in bed with a fever. Jesus touched her hand and she got up …” (Matthew 8:14-17)
To Jairus’ daughter who had died, “He tenderly clasped her hand and immediately the girl stood up …” (Mark 5:35-43)
To the boy who’d fallen to the ground, seized by a demonic spirit. “Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet.” (Mark 9:27)
And to the man who spent 38 years … THIRTY. EIGHT. YEARS unable to get up. To the man who waited 38 years for “a helping hand.” To this man who tried to no avail – who failed time and again – who simply would not, could not rise. To this man, Jesus spoke a word that put him back on his feet.
(John 5:3-9)
Friend, there is hope, hope, hope! There is hope for our rising from that which sends us headlong and splays us out.
And this hope begins with help.
With our cry for help.
Help! I’ve fallen and I can’t get up.
The prophet Micah says:
“Do not gloat over me [amid my tragedies], O my enemy!
Though I fall, I will rise;
Though I sit in the darkness [of distress],
the Lord will be my light.”
(Micah 7:8)
Guess what that section of Scripture is titled:
“Israel will rise.”
Israel will rise.
And so will you. And so will I. With a little help from our friends.
Help me up: Our Little Life Words of the week.
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DEEPER DIVE
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Ponder:
- Is there a place from which you’re having difficulty rising (a belief, wound, thought, pain, or situation that’s laid you low)?
- Where is the place you lay, and what are you saying about it?
- What help do you need to ask for right now?
Practice:
- Physically lie down and then ask someone to lend you a hand and help you up.
- Ask someone for help this week.
- Pay attention daily to where you can lend a helping hand to another.
Play:
- Our song of the week is: Help! by the Beatles.
Pray:
- When you feel you’ve fallen or are lying low, instead of imagining the worst for yourself, ask Jesus to “Extend His gracious hand and help you up.”
- Pray the simple prayer, “Help! I’ve fallen and I can’t get up.”
Dear One, there’s a lot that would lay us low these days – economically & emotionally, mentally & physically – let’s not be afraid to ask for help. And let’s be quick to offer it as well by holding out both hope and hand. United we stand, amen?
Here’s to your rising!