God Helps Those Who Help Themselves

God Helps Those Who Help Themselves

[Jesus said,] “Apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5

Have you ever felt helpless, powerless to do anything about a situation that you wish you could change? If so, then you are on the way to a blessing. Contrary to popular opinion and to what you may have heard countless times, “God helps those who help themselves” is not in the Bible. That phrase implies that self-effort and self-determination are key to connecting with God’s grace. But the truth is actually just the opposite.

Prayer isn’t for those who’ve got it all together and are capable, self-sufficient superwomen. Prayer is for the helpless, said Ole Hallesby, who taught that our helplessness can actually open a door to hope. When we understand just how little we can do coupled with our faith in all God can do, we are opening the door for him to work. When a baby can’t say a word, she surrenders to her mom’s care even before she can speak: “The little ones pray the best way they know how. All they can do is cry, but you understand very well their pleading. . . . All you need to do is to see them in all their helpless dependence on you, and a prayer touches your mother-heart, a prayer which is stronger than the loudest cry,” Hallesby wrote.

It’s that very dependence on God instead of your own resources that makes the difference, for when you are helpless, you open your heart and let Christ into your distress. Perhaps, like me, you breathe a sigh of relief to know that your helplessness doesn’t prevent you from coming to God but in fact, ushers you into his arms. He stands at the door and knocks. Let me encourage you to leave those “help yourself” efforts behind and invite him in. —CHERI

Jesus, I am weak, but you are strong. I cast off all notion of helping myself and instead come humbly to you.

Prayer and helplessness are inseparable. Only those who are helpless can truly pray.

—OLE HALLESBY (1879–1961), NORWEGIAN THEOLOGIAN AND TEACHER