Lately, we have been deeply troubled and vexed by a certain issue, completely unable to find a resolution despite our tireless efforts.
Then, one morning during my devotions, I came across Psalm 108:12-13, which says: “Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man. Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies.”
This passage truly opened my eyes. As I pondered and reflected upon it, the profound truth of these words resonated deeply within me. We try our very best to solve our own problems. This comes as no surprise, as from an early age, we are trained in school to be problem-solvers. This mindset is deeply ingrained in us and remains a fundamental part of our human development.
Because we are wired to fix things, when uncertainties loom, we naturally feel the weight of stress. We strive to quell the turmoil, desperately seeking to restore life’s delicate balance through our own efforts.
However, when profound troubles come our way, human ingenuity often falls short.
No matter how intensely we try to solve a crisis—exhausting plans A through Z—nothing seems to work.
Whether at work or in church, we hold meeting after meeting, yet no long-term resolutions are ever reached. Despite our best efforts to brainstorm, the resulting answers still feel off. Worse, the ideas we believe to be real solutions often turn out to be futile, sometimes even giving birth to a cascade of new problems.
Even with the combined support of our families, friends, church, and community, we eventually hit a wall.
We realise there are simply problems that only God can solve—burdens that are entirely beyond our control and outside our finite grasp.
Instead of exhausting ourselves, we should ask God for help first and leave everything in His mighty hands.
Returning to the issue I mentioned earlier, we had become completely exhausted and found ourselves at a loss for what to do. That is why the phrase, “vain is the help of man,” struck me in such a powerful way.
This is not to discredit or discourage the value of helping one another, for supporting each other in times of need is undeniably good. However, there are simply moments when, no matter how well-intentioned we might be, we face problems that leave us completely helpless, rendering our human efforts futile.
The verse reminded me that only God can “valiantly” resolve our struggles. Where our human limitations end, God exercises His sovereignty and power.
Thankfully, we have a God who is able. His omnipotence and omniscience make our “impossible” problems seem minuscule.
What problems have you faced where, despite your own efforts and the help of your loved ones, you truly understood the reality of this verse: “Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man”?
