Help!

My heart is about to break; I'm burned out,

the light has gone out of my eyes. 

My loved ones and my friends avoid me like the plague,

those who used to be close to me now run away (Psalms 38:11,12).

The more we need help, the less we attract it. That's because neediness is off-putting. Hardly anyone likes to be around a deeply troubled soul. Most of us have enough troubles of our own. 

There is One, however, who's never disaffected by our neediness, who understands our sighs and the deep source of our tears (38:9). We should then, "draw near to Him with confidence that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:16).

"When bale (need) is att hyest, boote (help) is nyest.” So goes “The Ballad of Sir Aldingar." And so I pray with David, "Make haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation!" (38:22).

David Roper

8.22.17