Cry Out to Jesus

Yesterday, I was out walking with a dear friend of mine. It was a picture-perfect day, and we were taking all 5 of our children on a bike ride. A recently abandoned college campus seemed like an ideal place to give the children free rein. Endless sidewalks stretched before us with hardly a pedestrian in sight. Our kiddos were in Bicycle Heaven!

After riding their bikes for quite a stretch, the children decided to play on the lawn for a bit. My girlfriend and I were happy to rest and talk, all the while keeping a close eye on the fun. There was a grass covered mound in the distance. The little girls were at the base of the small hill, just exploring a bit when one of them began to cry. My friend quickly went over to see what was wrong. At the same time, another child ran away from the mound, screaming in terror. At that point, I knew that something was terribly wrong.

"BEES!" was the first thought that came to my mind. And it proved to be a pretty accurate guess. It was actually YELLOW JACKETS, scads of them. And boy, were they ticked off! Our girls had stumbled on a nest, and it was getting UGLY fast. As my friend rushed up with a look of sheer panic on her face, I realized that they were still swarming around both her and her little little one.

At that moment, it was like time stood still and everything began to happen in slow motion. There were 5 children gathered around us, and we had no idea how many angry insects were on their way. I looked down at the 4-year-old who seemed to have gotten the worst of it, and there were three yellow jackets completely embedded in her leggings, as if they could drill a hole right through the fabric! So, what did we do? We ran, stripping clothes off the children as we went. As I fled with the baby in my arms and holding the 4-year-old by the hand, I screamed, "Help us, Jesus!"

I was desperate.

I was helpless.

I was utterly panic-stricken.

And I was exactly where God wanted me to be, completely trusting in Him to deliver me from an impossible situation. I was so relieved when that is exactly what He did! Within a hundred yards or so, we were relieved of one little pair of leggings, one pink shirt, and a fleece jacket. Most importantly, we were relieved of COUNTLESS yellow jackets! Those wicked little beasts finally stopped following us, and we were able to flee to the safety of the mini van. I gathered the little half-dressed, ragtag band of children around me and together we thanked the Lord for delivering us from a terrible situation. Together, my friend and three of the children sustained about a dozen stings, but we knew that it could have been much, much worse.

Later that night, I picked up my Bible and randomly chose Psalm 34 as my passage for the evening. Verse 17 just about jumped off the page at me! It says, "The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles." I knew that was EXACTLY what had happened to us that day. In our trouble, I cried to the Lord, and He delivered us!

What are you going through today? A stormy marriage, the death of a loved one, the loss of your job, perhaps bankruptcy or a wayward child? Sometimes, it seems like the troubles of life overcome us, just like a swarm of angry yellow jackets. Whatever it is you're facing, no matter how far you are from the Lord, He is waiting for you to call on him. In the midst of fancy prayers and complicated conversations with the Almighty, I believe that the words he most wants to hear are, "Help me, Jesus!" It is our utter helplessness, our overwhelming fears, our absolute NEEDINESS that drives Him to us faster than we can utter the words. God does not help those who help themselves. He helps those who CANNOT help themselves and who are humble and DESPERATE enough to admit it.

Cry out to Jesus!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOb8ihacSM4
***Awesome music video by 3rd Day - "Cry out to Jesus"