As I walked down a now vacant dirt road I remembered 2 things simultaneously. I remembered all the stories that Pastor Phil told to the AWANA clubs during counsel time each week. It seemed like that in every story the young person in trouble would end up calling out a simple prayer…”Lord Help Me!” I also remembered the story of the Israelites in the desert when there gaze had turned inward as well and the Lord had sent snakes to handle the problem.
Numbers 21 4-9
They traveled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea, to go around Edom. But the people grew impatient on the way; they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the desert? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!" Then the LORD sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died. The people came to Moses and said, "We sinned when we spoke against the LORD and against you. Pray that the LORD will take the snakes away from us." So Moses prayed for the people. The LORD said to Moses, "Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live." So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, he lived.
That was when, still in my desperation, I heard my Savior say, “Look Up.” I knew exactly what he meant. Isn’t it always that way? Just two words but they said so much more: “Kevin, you are struggling so hard but it’s because your gaze is in the wrong place. You should be focused on me, not you.” It all became clear. I had allow the enemy to turn me inward. At the realization I did the only rational thing I could think of based on what had just been revealed…I looked up. Up into the branches of the long-leaf pines with the bright blues and whites of a cloud streaked sky shining through and I yelled…not out loud mind you…but I did yell. From the depths of my being I groaned, “Lord Help Me!”
It would be nice to say the fireworks went off and I was instantly made well from the inside out. But that did not happen. I did, at once, feel a relief. Sort of like when I was fighting dehydration my first trip to Peru. Then finally the battle ended – I passed out. There was still work to do. I had to down lots of fluid and make a few hundred trips to the restroom. But my immediate struggle was over. Same here: I feel into the arms of my Redeemer at once but knew the battle was not over. I had to retake the ground that had been given over to the enemy in my life and mind.
Walking back to the office, I found myself singing the most appropriate thing I could think of…
Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in His wonderful face
And the things of Earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace.
