Years ago, when my wife, Eve, and I faced a frightening medical emergency with our youngest son, Pierre, he had such a severe allergic reaction that he had to be rushed to the hospital by ambulance. I cannot fully explain what it felt like to stand beside his bed, feeling helpless as I watched the medical team do everything possible to save his life. As his father, I wanted to protect him, but there was nothing I could do except trust the medical team and pray.
We experienced that same helplessness when our oldest son, Paul, had surgery following an injury. Watching him being wheeled away for surgery was again one of the most helpless feelings we had to experience. Prayer became our immediate response, but that did not make the fear disappear. Every moment seemed like an eternity. Seeing Eve sitting pensive made me feel even more helpless because I knew there was nothing I could say or do that would make the situation better. Then came the moment when the doctor walked toward us after surgery. I stood to meet him, not knowing what he was going to say.
It is interesting how, when life hits you at your core, you can know the right Scriptures, have good health insurance, and be surrounded by excellent medical professionals, yet still feel completely helpless.
God has had to teach me—and continues to teach me—the true meaning of these words: “Cease striving and know that I am God… The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold.”
Psalm 46:10–11 (NASB)
God has consistently shown me the depth of the words “still” and “know.” And the more He teaches me, the more I realize that learning to “be still” and truly “know Him” is a lifelong journey.
First, I had to learn to cease striving. That meant I could not depend on my past experiences from similar circumstances to guide me. I had to seek Him through His Word and learn how Bible characters who experienced similar circumstances or verses where others trusted Him in difficult circumstances. He promises I will find Him if I seek Him – Luke 12:31-32.
Second, He taught me how to pray more effectively and the power of seeking to live by faith—completely trusting that His Word is true (Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:1-4; 6:18; 11:6; 2 Pet. 1:3-4) — no matter how idiotic that may seem because of how long He may take to respond (Isaiah 40:31).
Third, He taught me that obeying Him means letting go of any need I may feel to control what I am experiencing. He continually teaches me what it truly means to die to myself (John 12:23) – to do “His Father’s business” regardless of what I may be going through or how I may feel in the midst of it, involved a cross to bear (Luke 14:25-27).
“My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness. .…therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. …; for when I am weak, then I am strong.”
2 Corinthians 12:9 (NASB)
I am learning that when I feel helpless, choosing to trust God rather than surrendering to my emotions is one of the greatest ways to experience just how helpful God truly is (Psalm 34).
“Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us… to Him be the glory…” Ephesians 3:20–21 (NASB)
My helplessness does not diminish God’s power. It reminds me of where my help has always come from.