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Immediate Help

Writer's picture: Staci SweetStaci Sweet


There’s something in Matthew 14 that I think will help us all during this time. I grew up in a church where almost every Sunday, the Pastor made it a point to tell us that we were either in a storm or headed into one which led me to believe that life would always be hard. I thought that since life would always be hard, that there was no need to ask God for help. I mean, since it was gonna be filled with hardship, attacks, and storms, why should I ask God for help since it was His will that I always be in a storm? Well, over the years, I’ve found that to be farther from the truth and while reading Matthew 14, I found scripture to substantiate it.

Matthew 14:25-31 says, “…Jesus went…walking on the sea. 26 And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea…they cried out for fear. 27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.” 28 And Peter…said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. 30 But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” 31 And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him…’ Notice verses 30 and 31. It says that while Peter was walking on the water, in the midst of a storm, and began to sink, Jesus immediately stretched out His hand and caught him. You see that?


Immediately. Jesus didn’t leave him in the midst of his hardship, He immediately saved him. I thought we had to endure hardship ‘as a good soldier’ for extended periods of time. And though true in certain situations, it doesn’t necessarily apply across the board.

Another point is this: Though the Lord immediately saved him, Peter had to ask for help. Because I thought storms, hardships, attacks, living without, and going through were a way of life, I never asked God for help. I thought I was supposed to go under (i.e. fail) or that I had to remain in the water until I taught myself how to float and/or walk. But that’s not what God intended. God wants to help. In fact, He’s given us, ‘…the Helper, the Holy Spirit, [who] will teach [us] all things…’, including how to walk on water or do the impossible in the midst of a temporary storm (Jn 14:26). But again, we’ve got to ask. For example, if we continue to think that it’s God will for us to grapple with this pandemic for the rest of our lives, then we’ll continue to sink in the reports of hopelessness. God wants to help us, but we’ve got to stop believing that it’s going to take a long time for Him to do it. Maybe you’re in the middle of your own personal, physical, or financial storm. Whatever has broken out in your life, just know that God wants to help you through it. And if you’ll just ask, He’ll bring immediate relief deliver you to victory.

Pray this with me: Heavenly Father, please forgive me for mistakenly believing that I would always be in the midst of this storm. Please forgive me for allowing it and/or them to remain in my life this long. Lord, I ask You to save and to help me. But since You’ve already given me the Helper, I ask that You teach me how to rely on His help. In Jesus’ name.


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