Hear It on Sunday, Use It on Monday: The Helpmehelpmehelpme Prayer
>> Monday, June 25, 2012 –
Old Testament,
Prayer,
psalms,
Use It on Monday
Ten years ago, on my first day back to work after a year and a half of being a stay-at-home mom, I greeted my new officemate, settled into my chair, switched on my desk lamp and turned toward the keyboard. Not even three minutes into my brand-new job, and I already had a problem…and it was an embarrassing one: I couldn’t figure out how to turn on my computer.
Panic, self-doubt and shame washed over me as I frantically
searched the keyboard and the monitor for the on switch. “I knew I wasn’t going
to be able to do this,” I berated myself. “I knew I shouldn’t have applied for
this job. I knew I was going to be a total failure.” I swiveled toward my
officemate, who was busily typing. “Um, can I interrupt you for just a second?”
I asked. “Ah, this is kind of embarrassing…but I can’t figure out how to turn
on my computer.” In the brief moment before she pointed to the switch on the
black tower under my desk, I glimpsed hesitation slide across her features. I
could tell she wondered if I was going to make it.
As it turned out, that question was the first of many
to follow in the days and weeks as I settled into my new job. I inquired about
the printer, the location of the microwave, the proper formatting for news
releases, where the supply closet was located, how to sign my timesheet, the
extension for the IT department. I asked what felt like a relentless stream
of questions, and although my officemate and other coworkers were remarkably
patient and gracious in offering help, after a while, I began to feel ashamed
by my seemingly constant need for assistance. I didn’t want to ask for help
anymore. I felt like the answer window was closing, and it was time to figure
out the rest of it on my own. I remembered those humbling and terrifying new-job fears and insecurities yesterday when we read Psalm 124 in church. And I thought about how grateful I am that God’s answer window never closes.
“Our help is in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” (Psalm 124:8)
The prayer I utter to God most often is this one: “Helpmehelpmehelpmehelpme.” I know. It’s not eloquent. It’s not fancy. It’s more than a little self-centered. Frankly, it must get a little old to be God and hear me mumbling the same pathetic prayer over and over. But what’s simply amazing is that God never stops offering help. He hears my desperation, he hears my panic time and time again, and he doesn’t ever turn away. He never says, “Michelle, your grace period is over. It’s time to figure it out on your own.”
I may not hear an answer to my plea for help right away. I may eventually hear an answer that differs from the one I desire. But I know I can keep asking. I know he listens. And I find so much comfort in that.
What's your most frequently uttered prayer?
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Posts
I am so happy that God does not say "time is up, no more questions."
Great Post Michelle. I worked for our county for 10 years and always had my cheat sheet handy. We did have some training to begin with, but I needed that sheet to help me remember a lot of things. :-)
God never tires of our questions - the only thing is that he does not always give us the answer we expect. You had patient co-workers and that teaches us to be patient when others ask us questions.
I can so relate to you "Help Me" prayers. Thankful that He doesn't require long, eloquent petitions...just a humble heart & a seeking soul.
There are prayers and then there are prayers...
The prayers I pray when I am alone with God and most aware of my total dependence on Him tend to all include the words "Please, help me!" somewhere in the first sentence or two.
He doesn't seem to ever tire of hearing it.
I suspect He more often is glad I finally remembered that all I have and all I need comes from Him.
I think I pray most often that I would hear Him clearly over the din of my own assumptions and thoughts, that I will be alert to the ways of the Holy Spirit, continually surprised by His grace. I am so thankful He doesn't weary of our repititve asking. He is just to wonderful to comprehend. This is so good Michelle, I felt your emotions as a newby.
I am so grateful we have a God who will listen to any type of prayer. I think my most frequent prayer is: I do believe, help my unbelief.
i find myself just repeating, "oh, please" a lot and trusting he knows what i need.
I think the "help me" prayer (and it's various renditions) is also what I most frequently pray. And I think when we utter those kinds of prayers, it shows we know we can't make it on our own...that we need our Father's helping hand. I used to think that God was only for "weak" people. But as a believer now, I see that it takes great strength and humility to ask for help and admit we can't do it all on our own.
I trust You.
Right now, my most frequent prayers are for my son, newly graduated and looking for a job. There is a lot of "ohpleaseohpleaseohplease" and "helphimhelphimhelphim" in my prayers and sometimes I think that God must be awfully tired of my same prayers, over and over and over again. Thank you for this post today. I have tears running down my face, Michelle, because I SO needed to hear this today. (He has a phone interview today. If you could say a little prayer for him (Brent), I'd appreciate it.)
I am so glad you found comfort in this today, Kim. And I just prayed for Brent, that God would breath eloquence and confidence into his words during the interview, and that Brent would find a job that fits with God's will.
I'm with Jean: I know you are able, please help me believe you are also willing. My paraphrasing of "I believe, help my unbelief."
Thank you so much, Michelle!
I probably pray a prayer similar to yours quite often. Another one I pray alot...OK, I give up. Why didn't I pray that one first?
Thanks, Michelle this really hits home for me.
Mary
http://memyselfandmercy.blogspot.com
"And I thought about how grateful I am that God’s answer window never closes. "
Such a great analogy, Michelle. And that "help me" prayer is a regular petition from me, too.
I love that verse from Psalm 124. The picture of God being "Help" has been so vivid for me these last few weeks since coming home from the hospital.
Your post really made me stop and think....I go to Him with so much !
helpmehelpmehelpme, I must say is also my biggest plea!
My prayer is, "Please God - Mercy. Please, don't be fair!"
This echoes my heart SO much. His grace window never closes. Amen.
Michelle, your first paragraph made me laugh out loud. When I switched jobs closer to my home, I couldn't figure out how to print an envelope. :) God keeps us humble, yes? My most frequently uttered prayer is, "God, give me the right words to say from you - tell me what they need to hear." That prayer slows me down long enough to evaluate my knee-jerk response and season it with grace.
Our late Pastor used to call these "arrow prayers" -- shot out quickly in desperation, but effective! Thanks for the great post and for hosting the linkup.
God bless,
Laurie
Love this. Mine is a toss up between 'helpmehelpmehelpme' and 'helphim/herhelphim/herhelphim/her' and 'thankyouthankyouthankyou' They all sorta merge together most days. :>)
"Ah LORD GOD" uttered by Jeremiah and Ezekiel several times when things were just too difficult or painful for words.
It's ok that we can't think what to say, for Romans 8:26 reminds us:
"...we do not know how to pray as we should, but The Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words."
Oh I like that: arrow prayers!
I think this one NEEDS to be my most frequently uttered prayer.
I do the "groaning" prayer pretty often, too - I'm banking on the Holy Spirit hearing me and interceding on my behalf! Romans 8:26 is one of my favorites.
Oh yes, the thankyouthankyouthankyou prayer I do a lot lately too - I have the gratitude journal to thank for getting me in the habit of noticing and appreciating God's many, many gifts!
Oh man, those envelopes are KILLER - seriously, I never mastered those on the office printer!
I love your prayer...and I love how you say it slows you down and inhibits that knee-jerk reaction -- I am all too familiar with speaking too soon!
Thanks for coming by, Lisa - I always smile when i see you here.
Yes, mercy. Amen. Amen.
I used to be really bad at praying -- I would forget to do it all the time. I am getting better though, and find I turn to him more and more - I am so grateful for that!
Praying for you right now, dear Lyli.
It takes me FOREVER to pray the "I give up, I surrender to you" prayer. I am stubborn like that!
xxoo Mary!
Me, too, Gaby. Me, too.
I LOVE this response Andrea. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts so honestly here.
Yes, the "Oh please" prayer - often I don't even finish the thought or sentence...I just know and trust that he is listening and knows what I need even before I put thoughts to words.
Oh my gosh, Jean, you KNOW I pray the "Help my unbelief" prayer a lot. That is a standard for me. I'm glad I'm not the only one...
You are so, so wise, Shelly. I am so grateful for you.
Yes, I agree, Joe - I think God is delighted when we turn to Him in any way, with any prayer. I think his greatest desire is to have a relationship with us (even if it means hearing the same thing from us again and again!).
Sometimes I feel guilty, like I should have more to say to God or be more eloquent and graceful in my prayers. But I think God gets me...he knows I am better on paper than I am in speech! ;)
It's so true...He doesn't always give us the answer we desire or expect. Sometimes that's hard, isn't it?
I am a big note-taker when it comes to new jobs...and just about anything. I don't have a great memory, so the cheat sheet is imperative!
I'm glad I'm not the only one, Leslie.
Somewhat like when one of my grandkids asks me to read a book to them.
No matter how many times they ask, I never tire of the time spent with them, nor of enjoying their enjoyment of one of my favorite pastimes!
oh Michelle, i do the helpmehelpmehelpme prayer a lot. i did it yesteraday running on trails in woods in hot afternoon sun. i couldnt breathe through all the thick humidity, and was a little dizzy, tripping a little over rocks. i needed to finish my run and go pick up my babies on time. so i prayed "Jesus, help me finish this" and i also didnt want to fall face first in the dirt and injure myself! i am reminded today i need to pray more--my heart longs to communicate with my Father more.
I'm so glad you made it back from your run safely, Nacole. He is always there to rescue us (if we let him!), isn't he?
I have discovered this about myself lately: I am a whiner. My prayers are whiny. Thank God He can handle it. I don't handle whining well myself. Hmmm. Wonder what that means.
I think God likes it when we go to Him and says, "Help me," because we are acknowledging Who He is, Perfect, Omnipotent, Omniscient, Loving Father, and who we are...humbly accepting we are His imperfect children with limited resources...another great post, Michelle :)
P.S. It has taken me a long time to reach my current perspective :)
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