Strange Help

One morning, excuse me…one earlyyy morning, I walked into Nashville’s airport at dark o’clock. Which means it was suuuper early and…still dark outside…lol! Although it was early, there was an overwhelming amount of people checking in to fly. I thought to myself, “Wheeere is everyone going?” With that being said, the check in lines were long at every airline counter as well as security lines began to look unbearable, really quick. 

As I’m walking over to a kiosk to print off my bag tag, I see a lady at another kiosk by itself.  I wasn’t sure what she was trying to do, but all I know is that she was very frantic and irritable. In the midst of me seeing all of this, I’m trying to rush and get my bag checked in, so I don’t miss the cutoff time and therefore, have to miss my entire flight. Somehow, with all the noise, I heard a whisper, in the form of the Holy Spirit say: “Help her.”

So, after checking my bag in, I walked over to where she was, but she’d walked away. I immediately thought that maybe I was “hearing” things, so I headed to the security line. But then, I heard that same voice say again, “Help her.”  I turned around and she’s back at the kiosk panicking.  I walked up to her and began to help her convert her cash onto a physical card (they won't take cash at ticket counters anymore). It was just a simple misstep that was preventing her from getting what she needed.  As I was going through the steps to print her card, she would say, “I tried that already!” Or she would say, “That won’t work!” But I politely continued to follow the instructions on the screen even though she was frustrated.

Once I looked down and saw her card print out, I smiled and said, “Here you go!” She said, “Oh my goodness! Thank you! I’ve been trying to figure this out and nobody would stop to help me.” Without thinking about it, I replied, “God will always send you help.”  She just kind of looked at me and didn’t know what to say, so she said, “Thank you again!”  And she proceeded to check her bag in and get on her flight!

What is the point of all this, you ask?

Sometimes God will send you help in a form that you don’t recognize. Sometimes help will come from those you’ve never met and won’t see ever again. Sometimes help will come from the ones you thought wouldn’t.  Or maybe it will even come from those you thought couldn’t. Help can show up out of nowhere…and be right on time. Sometimes help has a way of calming nerves, as it solves problems. Help doesn’t look the same way, every time. Sometimes, your help may seem…strange.

I can’t count all the number of times that I needed help.  When I thought it would come one way, it came another. When I expected it to look one way, it had a totally different face.  Therefore, I want to discourage you from predetermining what your help looks like.  And because it doesn’t look like you expected, don’t turn it away. Help is help…no matter who it may come from. And another thing…when help comes, don’t try to convince your help that you’ve tried every possible solution. Don’t you help, the help. If it were that simple, you wouldn’t need help…right?

Ok…I know you get my point.

Good.

Just like the lady in the airport was frustrated and no one would help her, she still tried to tell me what steps to take.  But there was one small thing that she didn’t do, that delayed her success. 

What if it’s only one…small…step, keeping you from your goal.  The key is to remain quiet and allow your help, to help.  Your misstep can easily be detected by another person and thus, your problem is solved, your goal is reached, and your life can run just a little smoother.

I didn’t know that lady and she didn’t know me. All that mattered is that I became an answer for her, and I responded to her cry for help.  Even though small, it affected the rest of her day and calmed her nerves.  I’m sure you’ve been someone’s answer.  Isn’t it such a great feeling? Although it doesn’t always make sense to us, we don’t know the magnitude of the person’s problem staring us in the face.

Promise me no matter how small or how big, you’ll pay attention to being someone else's answer?  The amazing and beautiful result of things like this, is that when you need an answer, you’ll get it.

Even if it shows up as…strange help.