Help Me!

"I cried out to the LORD..."

Lately, I’ve been praying deep, profound prayers to the Lord: “Help me!” Not really long-winded prayers. More like a desperate cry of a child and two simple words: “Help me!”

Weeks of gardening alongside my friend Clarissa had transformed my barren and ugly yard, pots, garden, and beds into a vibrant and beautiful display of color and beauty with flowers and plants. And as I prepared for hosting a fun garden party and evening, my heart was soaring with joy. Even the lawn and beds that were carpeted with oak pods and pine pods as spring was springing to life didn’t thwart my plans.

But one seemingly small foot injury changed everything.

As I cleaned up the spring mess around the back patio and temporary tent, raking, bending, lifting, and dumping debris into a barrel, my left foot began to protest. But I pressed on to complete this one task, while images of party plans were rolling through my mind. Dragging the last barrel to the curb, I began to limp. By the evening, I could barely walk as my foot screamed in protest and with fire.

"My garden was springing to life..."

“What in the world?” I asked myself. By the next day, I could barely put pressure on my foot, let alone stand. By the third day, my husband was driving me to an orthopedic urgent care as the pain reduced me to a flood of tears.

And soon I was dragging out old crutches and a walker as the pain was unbearable. “Had I refractured an old injury? What had happened?” I wondered. The diagnosis “plantar fasciitis” with lots of instructions of icing, meds, a brace, treatments, and staying off my feet was advised.

Tears rained down just like the storm that moved in, watering the earth and washing away many of those pesky pods I was so obsessed over.

Our two-story house proved challenging with stairs…so back into an orthopedic boot I went to try to ambulate around my home. “Help me, Jesus!” I cried in my despair as depression rolled in like the ominous black clouds.

"The pain in my foot was crippling..."

I’d heard friends speak of the crippling pain of plantar fasciitis before, and now I knew. Realization dawned on me: there would be no garden party as the injury demanded rest and staying off my feet. All my plans went up in smoke as pain dominated my body and thoughts.

But as the extreme pain persisted, I wondered if it was something more. I sought a second opinion. “You’ve fractured your foot and have about 4 other problems too…but first we have to address the fracture.” The doctor advised. “Stay in a boot for six weeks and continue the plantar fasciitis protocol as well. We will address the other problems, and maybe surgery. But first, the fracture needs to heal.” She said with a gentle smile.

This time, I didn’t cry as I had a better explanation for the pain. The simple prayer, “Help me!” was being answered.

While I often struggle with turning towards despair, instead of trusting God in life’s trials and afflictions, and even with something as simple as walking, I’m trying to learn to have that childlike faith in the face of troubles. He hears and responds when any of us cry out to the Father, “Help me!”

My sister, Cynthia, challenged me with some profound wisdom with this new ailment I faced: “Perhaps you are being drawn to have a different footing or foundation in your life.” In that, she meant

 to have a quiet trust in God and a good Father who never punishes or abandons me in life’s hard trials. God was exposing more of my childhood wounds and false beliefs that needed healing, too.

"My garden and the garden of my heart are coming alive..."

She went on to say, “Pure love stays faithful in both consolation and trial, and that’s the love you carry as His beloved daughter. He delights in the heart that keeps turning towards Him, even when the way seems slow or tender. You are held, seen, and deeply loved right here. And He will not waste a single moment of trust.”

Maybe right here, right now, through pain and consolation, He is transforming the garden of my heart!

“Help me, beloved Savior, to reflect You even in slow, painful days of trusting You.” I prayed.

What are you struggling with? What trial or difficulty do you face? Like me, you can cry out to God, and He will hear and answer your prayer. He is as close as your next breath, and your cry of “Help me” never falls on deaf ears.

Beloved:

I delight in you, just as surely as you delight in a beautiful garden you have transformed. Let Me into the broken places and spaces of your heart. Do not turn from Me, turn towards Me. I will transform your heart and life, too, like a beautiful garden, anytime you cry out to Me!

“Then the LORD will guide you always; He will satisfy your needs...and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.” (Is. 58:11)

“For the LORD comforts Zion; He comforts all her waste places and makes her wilderness like Eden, her desert like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the voice of song.” (Is. 51:3)

“Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will hear you.” (Jer. 29:12)

(For more inspiration, you can follow Cynthia Riley on Smitten With Goodness on WordPress.com)