“I Will Help Thee”
“I Will Help Thee”
Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee… —Isaiah 41:10
Evangelist Raymond Hancock, tells a story in his book “I Think I’ll Just Go on Anyway,” of watching some ants trying to move a dead roach on a church kitchen countertop in Florida. Several ants were circling around this deceased roach while a few were busy underneath lifting the roach and others pulling on it’s feelers trying to move it. Those ants worked hard while the rest of the ants circled around watching. They finally got the roach to the backsplash and began to struggle to lift the roach over the backsplash. While a few of the ants pushed and pulled on the roach, most of the ants just ran around the roach. They would get that roach almost over the top and then it would fall back down to the formica countertop. They tried again, while the other ants just scurried about. Hancock wondered why the other ants didn’t help. He came to the conclusion they must be Baptist ants.
As Dr. Hancock watched the struggling ants trying to get that roach over the backsplash he began to cheer them on! He wanted to see them get the victory. Finally, they got the roach almost to the top again and were pulling and pushing hard to get it over the top. Dr. Hancock thought to himself, “I going to help those ants.” With his ink pen he nudged the roach over the backslash! Those ants had a jubilee! They went from being Baptist ants to charismatic ants!
Proverbs 6:6 says, “Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise.” God used those ants to teach Dr. Hancock a great lesson. He writes in his book, “PUSH and PULL! Keep on at it! If everybody does not join in, keep on at it! And when you have pushed all you can push, and when you have pulled all you can pull, remember, there is an eye watching you and a hand to help! He’ll put you over the top!
Fear not Christian. Just when you are about out of strength to continue on, God will give you a extra nudge to help get you over the top!
One Reply to ““I Will Help Thee””
Preacher,
I used to spend hours as a child, observing little brown and black sugar ants. I do not know if that is the proper name for them, that is what my Mom called them. We had a driveway constructed of large slabs of rock and they would dig out under these large slabs and nest there. They fascinated me. It is a comfort to know that someone is there.
We are experiencing a time in our family just now when we are leaning on the everlasting arms. Karen’s mother, Mary Jane has had either a stroke or is having a series of TIA’s. TIA’s are Transient Ischemic Accidents which mimic strokes but normally do not leave long lasting side effects. She is in Harrison Hospital and Pastor we would covet your prayers for her. She is saved and has been faithful to worship religously. She attends Northwest Baptist Church. She has visited our church several times and you may or may not remember her.
God is good and his grace is sufficient for all things! We are praying for a full recovery. Karen’s mother has been a very great blessing to me. I consider her to be my surrogate Mom.
Thanks preacher for all that you do. It is so good to have you back!
II Corinthians 9:8 Brother Abbott