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Reflecting on Christ's Example and Asking God for Help

Christ's own prayer life establishes the pattern for believers seeking divine help. The Gospels record him praying in solitary places before dawn [9], interceding for his disciples [8], and submitting to the Father's will in Gethsemane [7]. His example demonstrates that prayer is not merely a religious duty but "one of the great laws of natural religion" — a fundamental acknowledgment of human dependence upon God [12]. When Christ prayed, he modeled both the posture of petition and the spirit of resignation, showing that asking God for help involves both bold request and humble submission.

The Biblical Foundation for Asking

Scripture consistently presents God as the proper object of prayer and the source of deliverance. The psalmist declares, "I cry out to God Most High, to God who accomplishes my requests for me" [3], while another psalm frames prayer as an urgent appeal: "My cry goes to God! Indeed, I cry to God for help, and for him to listen to me" [6]. These texts establish that asking God for help is not presumptuous but expected. Jacob memorializes God as "who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me on the way which I went" [4], treating answered prayer as grounds for worship and remembrance.

The act of asking encompasses multiple postures: bowing the knees, lifting up the soul, pouring out the heart [10]. David's prayer, "Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts" [5], illustrates that asking God for help includes inviting divine examination of one's inner life. This is not passive resignation but active engagement with God's sovereignty.

Christ's Example in Suffering

Christ's prayers during his earthly ministry reveal how to ask for help while bearing affliction. He prayed for deliverance in Gethsemane yet submitted to the Father's will [7]. He interceded for Peter's faith before Peter's denial [8] and prayed for his executioners from the cross [8]. As the Canaanite woman's encounter shows, persistent prayer that acknowledges Christ's lordship and power — "Lord help me" — expresses both the sovereignty of the one petitioned and the urgency of the petitioner's need [14]. Her worship and brief petition model how to approach Christ in desperation.

The afflicted saints throughout Scripture follow this pattern. They cry to God in distress, and "God comforts" and "God delivers" [1]. The psalmist's appeal, "Wake up," reflects the biblical tradition of calling for God's attention in crisis [13], not as irreverence but as bold covenant confidence. Believers under affliction are exhorted to pray for God's presence and support, for mitigation of troubles, for deliverance, and for divine teaching [11].

Intercessory Prayer and Mutual Help

Paul's appeal to the Romans demonstrates that asking God for help extends beyond personal petition to intercessory prayer: "Now I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me" [2]. Christ himself set the example of intercessory prayer [8], and believers are commanded to pray for kings, those in authority, ministers, the church, all saints, and even persecutors [8]. This mutual intercession reflects the corporate nature of the body of Christ, where members bear one another's burdens through prayer.

Paul's own prayer to Christ for relief from his "thorn in the flesh" — made three times with solemn fervor [16] — shows that Christ himself is a proper object of prayer, which "is a sure proof of his divinity; for only an omniscient Being can be made an object of prayer" [16]. The apostle's repeated petitions, though not answered as he wished, resulted in a deeper revelation of Christ's sufficient grace.

The Posture of Dependence

Asking God for help requires abandoning reliance on human strength. The psalmist questions whether help comes from the hills — from earthly powers and human instruments — and concludes that true help comes from God alone [15]. This is not fatalism but faith: recognizing that "in vain is salvation hoped for from hills" [15] while trusting that God hears and answers prayer [10]. The afflicted are called to praise God even in their distress [1], demonstrating that asking for help and offering worship are not contradictory but complementary acts of faith.

Sources

  1. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Afflicted Saints — God is with -- Ps 46:5,7; Isa 43:2. God is a refuge and strength to -- Ps 27:5,6; Isa 25:4; Jer 16:19; Na 1:7. God comforts -- Isa 49:13; Jer 31:13; Mt 5:4; 2Co 1:4,5; 7:6. God preserves -- Ps 34:20. God delivers -- Ps 34:4,19; Pr 12:13; Jer 39:17,18. Christ is with -- Joh 14:18. Christ supports -- 2Ti 4:17; Heb 2:18. Christ comforts -- Isa 61:2; Mt 11:28-30; Lu 7:13; Joh 14:1; 16:33. Christ preserves -- Isa 63:9; Lu 21:18. Christ delivers -- Re 3:10. Should praise God -- Ps 13:5,6; 56:8-10; 57:6,7; 71:20-23. Should imitate Christ -- Heb 12:1-3; 1P”
  2. Romans “Romans 15:30 (BSB) — Now I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me.”
  3. Psalms “I cry out to God Most High, to God who accomplishes my requests for me. -- Psalms 57:2”
  4. Genesis “Let us arise, and go up to Bethel. I will make there an altar to God, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me on the way which I went.” -- Genesis 35:3”
  5. Psalms “Psalms 139:23 (NASB) — Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts;”
  6. Psalms “My cry goes to God! Indeed, I cry to God for help, and for him to listen to me. -- Psalms 77:1”
  7. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Resignation — Christ set and example of -- Mt 26:39-44; Joh 12:27; 18:11. Commanded -- Ps 37:7; 46:10. Should be exhibited in Submission to the will of God. -- 2Sa 15:26; Ps 42:5,11; Mt 6:10. Submission to the sovereignty of God in his purposes. -- Ro 9:20,21. The prospect of death. -- Ac 21:13; 2Co 4:16-5:1. Loss of goods. -- Job 1:15,16,21. Loss of children. -- Job 1:18,19,21. Chastisements. -- Heb 12:9. Bodily suffering. -- Job 2:8-10. The wicked are devoid of -- Pr 19:3. Exhortation to -- Ps 37:1-11. Motives to God's greatness. -- Ps 46:10. God's love. -- Heb 12:”
  8. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Prayer, Intercessory — Christ set an example of -- Lu 22:32; 23:34; Joh 17:9-24. Commanded -- 1Ti 2:1; Jas 5:14,16. Should be offered up for Kings. -- 1Ti 2:2. All in authority. -- 1Ti 2:2. Ministers. -- 2Co 1:11; Php 1:19. The Church. -- Ps 122:6; Isa 62:6,7. All saints. -- Eph 6:18. All men. -- 1Ti 2:1. Masters. -- Ge 24:12-14. Servants. -- Lu 7:2,3. Children. -- Ge 17:18; Mt 15:22. Friends. -- Job 42:8. Fellow-countrymen. -- Ro 10:1. The sick. -- Jas 5:14. Persecutors. -- Mt 5:44. Enemies among whom we dwell. -- Jer 29:7. Those who envy us. -- Nu 12:13. Those who ”
  9. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Early Rising — Christ set an example of -- Mr 1:35; Lu 21:38; Joh 8:2. Requisite for Devotion. -- Ps 5:3; 59:16; 63:1; 88:13; Isa 26:9. Executing God's commands. -- Ge 22:3. Discharge of daily duties. -- Pr 31:15. Neglect of, leads to poverty -- Pr 6:9-11. Practised by the wicked, for Deceit. -- Pr 27:14. Executing plans of evil. -- Mic 2:1. Illustrates spiritual diligence -- Ro 13:11,12. Exemplified Abraham. -- Ge 19:27. Isaac, &c. -- Ge 26:31. Jacob. -- Ge 28:18. Joshua &c. -- Jos 3:1. Gideon. -- Jdj 6:38. Samuel. -- 1Sa 15:12. David. -- 1Sa 17:20. Mary, &c. -- Mr ”
  10. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Prayer — Commanded -- Isa 55:6; Mt 7:7; Php 4:6. To be offered To God. -- Ps 5:2; Mt 4:10. To Christ. -- Lu 23:42; Ac 7:59. To the Holy Spirit. -- 2Th 3:5. Through Christ. -- Eph 2:18; Heb 10:19. God hears -- Ps 10:17; 65:2. God answers -- Ps 99:6; Isa 58:9. Is described as Bowing the knees. -- Eph 3:14. Looking up. -- Ps 5:3. Lifting up the soul. -- Ps 25:1. Lifting up the heart. -- La 3:41. Pouring out the heart. -- Ps 62:8. Pouring out the soul. -- 1Sa 1:15. Calling upon the name of the Lord. -- Ge 12:8; Ps 116:4; Ac 22:16. Crying to God. -- Ps 27:7; 34:6. Drawing”
  11. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Affliction, Prayer Under — Exhortation to -- Jas 5:13. That God would consider our trouble -- 2Ki 19:16; Ne 9:32; Ps 9:13; La 5:1. For the presence and support of God -- Ps 10:1; 102:2. That the Holy Spirit may not be withdrawn -- Ps 51:11. For divine comfort -- Ps 4:6; 119:76. For mitigation of troubles -- Ps 39:12,13. For deliverance -- Ps 25:17,22; 39:10; Isa 64:9-12; Jer 17:14. For pardon and deliverance from sin -- Ps 39:8; 51:1; 79:8. That we may be turned to God -- Ps 80:7; 85:4-6; Jer 31:18. For divine teaching and direction -- Job 34:32; Ps 27:11; 143:10. Fo”
  12. Luke (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Luke 11:1: Prayer is one of the great laws of natural religion. That man is a brute, is a monster, that never prays, that never gives glory to his Maker, nor feels his favour, nor owns his dependence upon him. One great design therefore of Christianity is to assist us in prayer, to enforce the duty upon us, to instruct us in it, and encourage us to expect advantage by it. Now here, I. We find Christ himself praying in a certain place, probably where he used to pray, Luk 11:1. As God, he was prayed to; as man, he prayed; and, though he was a Son, yet learned he this obedience. ”
  13. Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 44:23: 44:23-26 In the end, God’s people can turn to the Lord and trust him for rescue. Their petition for God to remedy their situation is as strong as their lament about God’s rejection. 44:23 Wake up: Biblical authors often call for God’s attention in a crisis (35:23; 44:23; 73:20; 80:2; Mark 4:38).”
  14. Matthew (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Matthew 15:25: Then came she and worshipped him,.... She followed the disciples into the house; and perceiving another repulse by Christ's answer to them, she pushes on, through all discouragements; her faith grows stronger, and her importunity greater: she had called Christ Lord, and the son of David before, but now she worships him as God: Saying, Lord help me; a short petition, but what fully and fitly expressed her case: the object she prays unto is the Lord, by which she owns his sovereignty, dominion, and power: the request she makes is for "help", signifying that her case”
  15. Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 121:1: This psalm teaches us, I. To stay ourselves upon God as a God of power and a God all-sufficient for us. David did so and found the benefit of it. 1. We must not rely upon creatures, upon men and means, instruments and second causes, nor make flesh our arm: "Shall I lift up my eyes to the hills?" - so some read it. "Does my help come thence? Shall I depend upon the powers of the earth, upon the strength of the hills, upon princes and great men, who, like hills, fill the earth, and hold up their heads towards heaven? No; in vain is salvation hoped for from hills an”
  16. 2 Corinthians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 2 Corinthians 12:8: I besought the Lord - That is, Christ, as the next verse absolutely proves, and the Socinians themselves confess. And if Christ be an object of prayer in such a case as this, or indeed in any case, it is a sure proof of his divinity; for only an omniscient Being can be made an object of prayer. Thrice - Several suppose this to be a certain number for an uncertain; as if he had said, I often besought Christ to deliver me from this tormentor: or, which is perhaps more likely, the apostle may refer to three solemn, fixed, and fervent applications made to Christ ”
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