How to Activate Triple A When You Need Help from God

Today I’m delighted to introduce you to Jeannie Waters. Besides being an accomplished writer, she is always ready to help and encourage me in my own writing journey.

Jeannie is an award-winning devotional and article writer and blogger. The devotional she is writing will be published in 2023 by Bold Vision Books. A wife, mother, grandmother, and retired educator, she understands how women struggle to live in freedom from life’s crippling stress. Her writing equips women to embrace God’s encouragement, swap their burdens for His gifts, and share their blessings with others. Jeannie enjoys family fun and leading an English Club/Bible study for women learning English. Visit Jeannie at https://www.jeanniewaters.com/ for encouraging posts to Brighten Someone’s Day.

I know your day will be brightened by her post

 


“Momma! Come get me down,” my brother would yell from our taller-than-most swing set. Ed’s climbing skills rivaled a monkey’s.

We’d watch through the window as he’d scale the slanted side of the metal frame and pull himself up to the horizontal bar.

Legs dangling, he’d stare downward and yell for help.

Right after Momma rescued him and went inside, up he’d go. Then the familiar call, “Momma! Come get me down.”

I’m sure my inner big sister voice questioned, “Will the little squirt ever learn?”

Momma wanted Ed to learn he could trust her for help.

Recently, our five-year-old granddaughter needed help after she’d struggled and failed to open her tempera paint. She frowned and stomped her foot. “I want to paint, but I can’t open it.”

Her mother smiled. “Sadie, I’m right here. I’m happy to help you.”

Memories of children remind me of myself. At times, I repeat mistakes or stew in frustration over a challenge, denying my lack of skill. I sometimes blame the computer’s lack of intelligence or mumble my natural go-to statement, “I can’t DO this.”

Last night would have been easier if I’d asked for assistance. Neither the clock, the phone charger, nor the bedside lamp worked.

One outlet—three problems.

I considered connecting an extension cord to a working outlet, but my fatigue said no. I tried to read by the adjacent bathroom light. No good. I tried a flashlight but finally gave up.

The next morning my husband said “It’s working now. All you had to do was push the reset button.”

When I remember where my help comes from (Psalm 121:1-2), I pray and trust God to care for me. The more I reset my focus on Jesus, the more I hear Him.

He reminds me to avoid the detours of fear, doubt, and discouragement and choose a direct route to Him. When I lean on my limited understanding and need a refresher course, the Holy Spirit steers me to Truth and reminds me He is my go-to source.

Like the way my mom and Sadie’s mom hoped their children would learn trust, our heavenly Father wants us to call on and depend on Him. He promises, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you” (Psalm 32:8 ESV).

Consider the pattern below.

Activate Triple A When You Need Help

  • Ask

Throughout Scripture, God instructs His children—we who have surrendered to the lordship of Jesus—to ask for His help. Tender Father-child communication acknowledges His superior wisdom and warms our relationship. His guidance teaches us to live in ways that please Him.

Prayer paves the way to walk out our faith in obedience and trust.

What kind of help do you need today? Comfort or joy? Strength or wisdom? Do you long for peace or assurance of His presence? You may lack practical assistance to solve a problem. Ask God.

  • Anticipate

God’s closer than the best roadside assistance company. Expect Him to guide you. Anticipate His answers. They may not come when or how we expect, but we can trust our wise and faithful Father.

When we seek His best, He aligns our hearts with His. “Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4).

We can find verses about our concerns in a concordance or online. Philippians 4:19 holds a promise, “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

  • Accept

Accept God’s answers and refuse taunts from the enemy of our souls. Guard against negative thoughts that zip into our minds like sleek arrows. Seek God’s peace through His Word to fight worry and fear.

Accept offers from others when necessary. God doesn’t condone laziness or the practice of overburdening friends or family members, but He teaches believers to encourage and serve others.

Let’s Ask, Anticipate, and Accept His help today. Equipped with His guidance and provision, we can “walk in a manner worthy of the Lord” (Colossians 1:10).

Try this

Record prayer requests and answers in your journal or phone. From time to time, reread the answers and rejoice in His love and care.

What reminds you to request God’s help? We look forward to your comments.

24 Replies

  1. J.D. Wininger Reply

    Well said Ms. Jeannie. Not sure why it is, but for a great many of us, it seems AAA is our last resort instead of our first option. Thank you for sharing this inspiring post Ms. Sylvia.

    • Sylvia Schroeder Reply

      I thought it was so good! Thanks Jeannie! There are times I need that triple A, and today is one of them.

    • Jeannie Waters Reply

      J.D., I agree we often wait to make the best choices last. When we go to God first, His peace calms our hearts and reminds us to trust Him.

  2. Nancy E. Head Reply

    You’re so right that it’s easy to see how others can receive help, especially from God, but harder to seek that help ourselves. You offer a wonderful plan for us to approach God boldly and make our requests. Great job, Sylvia! God bless!

    • Sylvia Schroeder Reply

      Jeannie did such an excellent job with the triple A plan. I loved it! Glad you enjoyed it as well, Nancy!

    • Jeannie Waters Reply

      Nancy, thanks for commenting. I think we sometimes jump to a solution of our own making because it may appear to be immediately successful. However, God often shows us a far better way than we imagine.

  3. Connie Wohlford Reply

    Why are we so stubborn when lots of times the help we need is nearby?
    I suspect the reason is often that rascal called pride.
    Jeannie’s post is a great and practical lesson for all of us. God is right there, ready, willing, and able to help us. Plus we can always trust Him to help in the way that’s best for us.

    • Sylvia Schroeder Reply

      I thought of the same thing when I first read Jeannie’s post, Connie. Pride is my answer far too often. Thank you for bringing that up, as it is one of those curable issues with Jesus’ help! Thanks Connie!

    • Jeannie Waters Reply

      Connie, I agree pride can lean us toward our own solutions. I’m glad you reminded us of that as something to guard against. As you said, God is available and encourages us to call out to Him.

  4. Janet Ruth Reply

    I wondered what you meant by Triple A in the title. It’s a great way to remember how to approach our Father for the things we need. Thanks!

    • Sylvia Schroeder Reply

      Thank you Janet Ruth for stopping by and I think I’ll remember Jeannie’s title as well…or at least the Triple A part!

  5. Jeannie Waters Reply

    Janet Ruth, I’m glad you liked the idea of Triple A to remind us the Father encourages us to bring every need to Him. I’m glad you found blessings in the post. Thanks so much for your comment.

  6. Barbara Latta Reply

    Jeannie, I love your suggestion of putting prayer requests and answers in our phones. Since we keep those devices with us most of the time, we will have those prayer reminders close by. Thanks Sylvia and Jeannie!

    • Jeannie Waters Reply

      Thank you for commenting, Barbara. I’m glad you found a helpful tip.

  7. Katherine Pasour Reply

    Ask, Anticipate, Accept. Those three together seem so obvious (now that you’ve shown us, Jeannie) yet don’t we often omit one of the important steps? Thanks for sharing this wonderful message of assurance of our Lord’s love and faithfulness, Jeannie and Sylvia.

    • Jeannie Waters Reply

      Katherine, I’m glad you found the Triple A reminders as helpful as I did. I want to avoid “leaning to my own understanding.” When I trust God and seek His wisdom first, peace follows.

    • Sylvia Schroeder Reply

      Thanks Katherine. I agree. The triple A’s are something I need to remember!

  8. Barb Fox Reply

    I know how much it pleases me when others seek me out because they know I want to assist and I am able. Such strong reminders that God is not only able to help but that He desires to help. Thank you, Lord!

    • Jeannie Waters Reply

      Barb, I appreciate your reminder that God wants us to ask Him for help. That process reminds us His wisdom and ways are far beyond ours.

  9. Annie Yorty Reply

    Jeannie, this is so well-written and packed with good insights. Thank you so much!

  10. Jeannie Waters Reply

    Annie, I’m grateful you found value in the post, and I appreciate your comments.

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