The last few weeks have been overwhelming.

I don’t know why life hit all at once, with disappointments and heartaches and sadness coming at full speed ahead. All I know is that a couple of weeks ago, I found myself curled up in a ball, tears streaming down my face, my prayers half worded, half Spirit infused (Romans 8:26). As I cried, I found myself uttering a simple ‘Help me.’ I didn’t know what I needed. I didn’t really even know what was wrong. I just knew that I couldn’t do it anymore. I couldn’t smile, couldn’t keep on like nothing was the matter, couldn’t face anyone else. I needed God’s help.

After a while, I dried my face, sat up in bed, and pulled out my iPad. I selected my Accordance Bible software and searched for the phrase help me. I thought since I didn’t know where to begin, that was probably good enough. Someone has been here — someone has felt this, I reasoned. And sure enough, Someone had.

I decided I would start in the Psalms, confident that David had felt this way. In the midst of being attacked, hated, forsaken…surely this man after God’s own heart had felt how I was feeling. And yet, when I looked into the Psalms for the phrase help me, the first place that came up was Psalm 22. I think I actually laughed when I looked at the screen. I’d been looking for comfort, and who would give it but Jesus?

Psalm 22 is a Messianic psalm detailing the events of the cross. In verse 19, the Psalmist gives these words as words from our Savior:

“But You, O Lord, do not be far from Me; O My Strength, hasten to help Me!”

Our Savior, the One who bled and died for us, is the One who cried help me. And yet, we know that Jesus’ cry from the cross was rejected. God didn’t extend His everlasting arm down toward His Only Begotten, because He chose me instead. And as I sat on my bed, I cried again, only this time immeasurably thankful and awe-struck that God could love me. Immeasurably indebted to Jesus, Who cried out an unreturned “help Me” so that I could one day cry the same thing yet find an answer.

How beautiful – glorious! – that our Savior knows just what we feel. Our Savior understands our weakness. Our Savior feels our hurts. Our Savior came to earth to experience what we go through so that He could be an advocate for us before the Father (1 John 2:1). In moments of uncertainty, in moments of hurt, in moments of anguish, we can call upon our God for help, and know that He is not far from us. He will hear our cry. He will deliver us. All because Jesus has been there before, only left to die so that we might live.

No matter what I go through, no matter what you go through, our God is greater. Our Savior has conquered. We can overcome, because Jesus promises victory. It won’t be easy. It won’t be fun. But it is doable, because Christ’s strength can do all things (Phil. 4:13).

And when you feel alone and helpless and discouraged and in despair, cry out those pleading words: help me. Then know, really know, that He is there.