A young boy was sailing his toy boat near the shore when the small craft drifted out of his reach. He grabbed a broken tree branch and tried to reach it, but it had drifted too far. “Dad!” the boy called frantically, “help me save my boat.”
His dad came quickly, saw the little boat floating away, and promptly gathered some stones. As he tossed the first one, his son gasped. What was his dad thinking? Frantically, he watched as the stone hit the water… a little way beyond the boat… causing a small ripple. The ripple caused the boat to move slightly shoreward. His dad aimed each stone carefully, each one landing precisely. With each ripple of the water, the boat floated a little closer. Finally, his son was able to reach out and pick it up.
This scenario gives a great lesson about how God works in the lives of His children. Sometimes a situation or problem gets beyond our ability to control it, and we need help. Who do we call? Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Too often, we wait till the problem becomes huge before we reach out to God, but once we do, He is quick to hear… once we are willing to humble ourselves and simply ask. At times we might wonder about the way He goes about solving our problem or providing answers…like the boy questioned his father’s method of throwing rocks… but we can rest assured that His way is best.
Is something out of control in your life and the solution beyond your reach? Help is only a prayer away. Psalm 121: 1 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. 2 My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth. 3 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved; he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Psalm 124:8 Our help is in the name of the Lord…
Our heavenly Father knows our needs even before we ask. He reaches out beyond our problems and, with precision and perfect care, draws us back… closer to Him.