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I recall a time when we were facing a utility issue. Promises for help from the property owners came readily but nothing substantial got done, so we decided to reach higher up the chain of command. What we found was dead end attempts—when one of my family members contacted the city authority of the town there was no help available; when I approached another office in the area they sent me to the county office and when I went to the county office they told me to notify the city and when I told them that that had already been done they said they were sorry that they could not do anything to help me! All the effort to find the help needed was fruitless, at least in the short term. Certainly I understood that they could not just cater to my request when it was outside of their authority to do so and I am confident that if they could have done something they would have, but that did not prevent me from being frustrated.

Along that same time I went to a farm supply operation in an adjoining town to buy some seeds. That seemed like a simple need and an easy request to be filled but the person who greeted me to see what I needed informed me that the employee who took care of the seeds was away and would return later in the day. Again, no help available!

Both of those issues were important to me, but neither of them was a life-or-death matter. Nevertheless, when we want help with something it is a huge disappointment and quite often an inconvenience when help is not readily available. Yet at other times, we face issues that are critical and we cannot afford to be without help from outside ourselves. The Bible reminds us of the access that we have to God to obtain the help needed when none is available otherwise. Psalm 46 states, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble” (verse 1, New International Version). In another psalm, the writer spoke of a time of deep distress and adversity of some sort. In the midst of the difficulty death seemed ready to destroy him. In that season of hardship that was too big for him to handle he cried out for help: “In my distress I called to the Lord; I cried to my God for help. From His temple He heard my voice; my cry came before Him, into His ears” (Psalm 18:6). In the verses that follow the psalmist describes how the Lord intervened for him and provided the help that only God could provide.

We are rapidly approaching a most sacred season of observance on the Christian calendar. In only a few weeks we will recall the events that led up to the crucifixion of Christ and His glorious resurrection from the dead. Easter is a time for each of us to think about the spiritual help that we need and that God has provided. No matter how good we might try to live—and we should all live clean and honest lives—our efforts fall short of the righteousness required to go to Heaven when our time on earth ends. The help to reach that goal has been provided for us in Jesus Christ. He stated that truth very simply and plainly in John 14:6: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

Whether we realize it or not, all of us are in great need of spiritual help. The good news is that help is available by putting our faith in Christ and calling out to Him. In this life we face needs for help that others either cannot or simply will not extend to us, but God is ready, waiting, and willing to pour His help into our lives to give us eternal hope. Yes, we need help right now and He wants to help us. Will you invite Him to do so?