God wants you to ask him for help when you are in trouble. He says, “Call on me in times of trouble. I will rescue you, and you will honor me” (Psalm 50:15 GW).

I call this a “microwave” prayer because it is quick and to the point: Help! SOS! Mayday! For instance, when temptation strikes and you don’t have time for a long conversation with God, simply cry out! David, Daniel, Peter, Paul, and countless others have prayed this kind of instant prayer for help in trouble.

The Bible guarantees that our cry for help will be heard because Jesus is sympathetic to our struggle. He faced the same kinds of problems we do. He “understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same temptations we do, yet he did not sin” (Hebrews 4:15 NLT).

If God is waiting to help us, why don’t we turn to him more often? Honestly, sometimes we don’t want to be helped! At that moment we think we know what’s best for us — that we’re more qualified than God is. At other times we’re embarrassed to ask God for help. But the Bible says, “Let us have confidence, then, and approach God’s throne, where there is grace. There we will receive mercy and find grace to help us just when we need it” (Hebrews 4:16 GNT).

God’s love is everlasting, and his patience endures forever. Ask him for help and then watch how he provides.

PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick >>

Talk It Over

If God is waiting to help us, why don’t we turn to him more often?

How have “microwave” prayers carried you through difficult temptations?

Do you find it easy or difficult to believe that Jesus understands your weaknesses and temptations? Why?