The cry of your heart reveals a burden common to man: the pinch of daily expenses and the vexation of careless dealing. Yet I must say to you as that king of Israel said, "If the Lord does not help you, where can I find help for you?" From the plumber, or from the oil merchant? If you look only to men, you will be disappointed; but if you cast this care upon your God, He will supply all your need. You ask prayers that someone may help your relative with plumbing at an honest price, and that the oil man may cease his negligence. These are small things with the Lord, yet they touch your spirit keenly. Remember, it is as easy for a camel to go through the eye of a needle as for any man to arrange his affairs rightly by his own wisdom. Be not thou so ignorantly brave, but learn to wait upon Jesus, and ask Him to help you to run in the path of patience. Sometimes our outward straits are the Lord’s way of bringing us down, that we may mount up with renewed trust. I do not believe Christians ever mount better than when they descend.
But let me press a deeper matter. Is it only for these temporal troubles that you cry to God? I trust you have first sought Him for your soul’s eternal welfare. For if the Lord does not help you in saving your soul, then all the honest plumbers in the world cannot profit you. The case of every unsaved man is a terrible one: he is ruined by sin and without strength to repair the damage. You may be tempted to think that church attendance, upright dealings, or giving to the poor will make you acceptable; but I must tell you plainly, if the Lord does not help you, we cannot help you there. None of your own works can lift the burden of guilt.
Yet if you have fled to Christ for refuge, take courage. Cry out to Him with a mighty wrestling; your soul cries to God and you cannot help it. Let that cry go up to our blessed Master! Unless Jesus Christ is your shield and help, you are undone. But you may have Him, you may have Him now! His Spirit speaks through my voice to you at this hour. I know He does! So trust Him for the plumbing and the oil, and trust Him for your soul.
And while you wait, consider how you may be a helper of others. You are concerned for your relative? That is well, for this love must be practical and lead us to help and succor our brethren. Perhaps you cannot fix the pipes, but you can help by a word of comfort, a prayer, or a shared burden. I cannot do much, but I can help. I cannot preach, but I can help. In helping others, you will find your own despondency shaken off. But mind that your testimony is not marred by a complaining spirit, lest we help the devil by suggesting our God does not care. Let this trial become an occasion to prove that your treasure is in heaven, and that your help cometh from the Lord.