4 Bible Promises for When You Just Need to Cry ‘Jesus, Help Me!’

Most of us can look back on our lives and know that Jesus was there helping us navigate through times of struggles, confusion, decision-making, and hurts. Likewise, Jesus is always celebrating with us during triumphs, joys, accomplishments, and good times.

It’s easy to forget our victories with Jesus in the past, when we face a new problem. But if we take a moment to pray and ask God to help us remember how his presence intertwined through all our life experiences, we’ll have confidence that he’ll be there for us now. We’ll have a testimony to his faithfulness to all generations.

God doesn’t promise a life of ease, but he does promise always to be with us in all circumstances. God’s character is unchanging and he cannot lie. He assures us, “The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm” (Ex. 14:14 NLT). So you can relax and count on it.

Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand. – Isaiah 41:10 NLT

Here are four hope-filled promises for when you just need to cry out ‘Jesus, help me!’

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Jesus always hears our cries and pleas, but sometimes he adds the qualifier “if” and asks us to do something first.

For example, God promises forgiveness and salvation to everyone who asks, ^“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

In 2 Chronicles 7:14 there’s a promise to heal our land as so many pray for today, “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

God is saying that if we humbly pray and repent from our sins, then he will forgive and heal our land and us personally. God wants us to live righteous and upright lives and he promises to do everything he can to help us be that kind of person.

Like parents when their children ask for things, God answers and provides for us what he knows is best at the right time, not just for the moment, but also in the future.

Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know. – Jeremiah 33:3

When you just need to cry out ‘Jesus, help me!’ you can rest assured in the promise of Philippians 4:19:

And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

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It is God’s desire that all would come to a saving grace by believing in his One and only son, Jesus Christ:

For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. – John 3:16

What an amazing promise! One that every believer cherishes.

You might think that you’ve done too many bad things in your life for God to ever forgive you, but the apostle Paul had persecuted Christians before he became a believer and an avid evangelist.

Even though I used to blaspheme the name of Christ. In my insolence, I persecuted his people. But God had mercy on me because I did it in ignorance and unbelief. Oh, how generous and gracious our Lord was! He filled me with the faith and love that come from Christ Jesus. – 1 Timothy 1:13-14 NLT

Notice that Paul admitted that he didn’t initially understand the saving grace of Jesus. It wasn’t until he believed and had faith that Jesus was who he said he was...that his eyes were open to receive the love and forgiveness of Jesus.

The Bible is the inspired Word of God. So to understand Jesus we need to read the Bible. When you have questions, talk to your pastor or a mentor who can help you understand how to change your life to adapt to the Bible—not change the Bible to adapt to your life. 

If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. (James 1:5 NLT)

And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. – Acts 2:21

Jesus wants to have a relationship with you. It’s always two-way. You can talk to him through prayer...and he talks to you through his Word, the Bible.

And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him. – Heb. 11:6 NLT

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Maybe you identify with the father who asked Jesus to help his son tormented by demons, but he added the qualifier “Have mercy on us and help us, if you can.” (Mark 9:22 NLT)

Jesus replied with a promise:

“What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.” – Mark 9:23 NLT

The father instantly cried out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!” – Mark 9:24 NLT

It is possible to be a Christian but have moments of questioning...when things don’t go the way we think they should, or we’re not sure God can (or will) truly help us. In the case of the father, Jesus did give him a visible tangible miracle and healed his son. But what if we don’t get our miracle? How can we come through with our faith still intact?

Hebrews 11:1 reminds us “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” 

Faith requires believing in things we cannot see because we don’t see the whole picture like our sovereign God does. There are things we must accept as believers because:

We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. – Rom 8:28

For if we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ. – Heb. 3:14 NLT

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Fears are a natural part of life. Fear is an honest, real emotion. Our heart races. We tremble. There’s a sinking fluttering sensation in our stomach. Sometimes even frozen to the spot—we can’t move.

Often, fear is a healthy reaction to a dangerous situation. Other times, it’s rooted in past or recent trauma or chronic worry. Letting Jesus help you conquer a fear can offer a world of new opportunities and accomplishments you might have previously avoided.

Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you. – Deut. 31:8 NLT

In Everyday Brave, I remark that faith is the opposite of fear. So the antidote to fear, worry, and anxiety is to trust God. Don’t doubt him. Realize and internalize that God’s got this and he is way ahead of us.

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:9

When I’m encountering a particularly difficult time in my life, I recite the 23^rd Psalm, especially the promise in verse 4:

Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. – Psalm 46:1

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Ask anyone about a time they felt lonely and responses may include grief, living alone, singleness, feeling misunderstood, moving, spiritual emptiness, illness, unemployment, financial loss...and you can probably think of more. Sometimes loneliness is short-lived and other times it is ongoing, even chronic.

We long for someone or something to fill the ache in our heart for companionship or relief from the feeling that no one understands us or has time for us. But God does!

He wants to be our everlasting friend, but this is another one of those “if” promises:

You are my friends if you do what I command. – John 15:14

And what was that command?

This is my command: Love each other. – John 15:17

Jesus is saying that he wants us to reach out to others. Extend the hand of friendship or make an effort to take action to overcome the source of our loneliness knowing that Jesus will be right by our side giving us encouragement and confidence.

In Hebrews 13:5, He promises: never will I leave you; never will I forsake you. Those were such comforting words to me when I lost my father at an early age but accepted Jesus as my Heavenly Father. His promise proved true that he was:

A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. – Psalm 68:5

God’s promises provide the help we seek and an answer to all our needs and problems. We just need to find them in the scriptures, pray over them, claim them, and rest in the assurance that God is always faithful. He’s omnipresent in our lives, and he loves us with a never-ending love.

The destination will be worth the journey. Refuse to get discouraged!

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. – 1 Cor. 15:57

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Here’s another wonderful promise when we need help or are anxious about anything: when the Lord tells us to pray, he will bring upon our hearts and minds the peace we so desperately seek.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 4:6-7

So let’s pray.

Lord Jesus, I’m crying out to you because I need your help. Help that I cannot achieve on my own. I surrender to you all my attempts to try to solve my problems. I am so grateful for all the promises you give to me to personally claim and the solutions they offer.

Help me to trust and obey the times you ask me to do my part in applying your promises to my life. I know each one will improve and enhance my relationship with you and with others.

Lord, when I falter or forget your faithfulness to me, please remind me that you’re only a prayer away! Amen.

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