Seeking God’s help in times of trouble or distress is natural for believers. Whether facing a health crisis, financial hardship, relationship struggles or other issues, Christians can turn to God and rely on Him. Asking God for immediate assistance recognizes His power, care and desire to help His children. Here is some guidance on bringing urgent requests to the Lord.
Come with Faith
Asking God for instant help requires faith. Hebrews 11:6 says “without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Come to God with confidence in His ability and willingness to help you. Do not doubt that He hears and acts when His children cry out to Him.
Examples of Faith
The Bible contains many examples of people who trusted God to meet their urgent needs:
- The centurion asking Jesus to heal his servant (Matthew 8:5-13)
- Blind Bartimaeus crying out for mercy and sight (Mark 10:46-52)
- The thief on the cross turning to Jesus in his last moments (Luke 23:42-43)
Grow in Faith
If your faith feels weak, pray for the Lord to increase it. Study scriptures about His power and readiness to help. Spend time in worship and fellowship with other believers to build your faith. God rewards those who earnestly seek Him and will strengthen your trust.
Humble Yourself
Coming to God for urgent help also requires humility. Recognize your dependence and limitations, while affirming God’s power and independence. Follow Jesus’ instruction that “whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:4). Humble yourself before God, acknowledging your need for His intervention.
Examples of Humility
Here are biblical examples of humility before God:
- Moses admitting his inability to lead Israel without the Lord (Exodus 3-4)
- David acknowledging his sin and asking for God’s mercy (Psalm 51)
- The tax collector pleading for God’s mercy, unlike the proud Pharisee (Luke 18:9-14)
Cultivate Humility
Practice humility in your daily walk with God. Confess your sins and weaknesses, while recognizing His grace and strength. Let go of pride and self-sufficiency. As 1 Peter 5:6 says, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.”
Be Specific
When asking God for immediate assistance, be specific. Clearly identify your need or problem, providing pertinent details. Consider these examples of specific prayers in the Bible:
Healing Requests
- The blind man calling “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” (Luke 18:38)
- The leper pleading “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” (Matthew 8:2)
- The father crying “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is epileptic and he suffers terribly” (Matthew 17:15)
Other Specific Requests
- Hannah praying for a son (1 Samuel 1:10-11)
- David begging for forgiveness after his adultery (Psalm 51:1-2)
- Nehemiah asking God to grant mercy before the king (Nehemiah 1:11)
Be Clear About Your Need
When you ask God for immediate help, clearly identify your need or problem. Avoid vague generalities. Just as a doctor needs details to properly diagnose and treat illness, God desires specifics to respond to your request.
Persist in Prayer
Keep praying and seeking God for urgent help. Jesus told a parable “to show them that they should always pray and not give up” (Luke 18:1). Likewise, Paul instructed believers to “devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful” (Colossians 4:2). Pray persistently, even if the answer is delayed.
Examples of Persistence
Consider biblical examples of persistence in prayer:
- The widow appealing to the unjust judge until he helped her (Luke 18:2-5)
- The crippled man staying by the pool of Bethesda for 38 years until Jesus healed him (John 5:5-9)
- Paul asking God three times to remove his “thorn in the flesh” (2 Corinthians 12:7-9)
Keep Praying Urgently
When pleading for instant help, do not give up but keep praying. Jesus encouraged persistence in the parable of the friend asking for bread at midnight (Luke 11:5-10). Keep knocking and the Lord promises to open. Remain faithful in prayer until you receive His help.
Have Patience
Waiting on the Lord with patience is part of seeking His urgent intervention. Patience affirms God’s timing and authority over the situation. Avoid frustration if His answer is not immediate. Remember that His ways are higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9).
Examples of Patience
Here are some biblical examples of patience in prayer:
- Abraham waiting 25 years for God’s promised son Isaac (Genesis 12-21)
- Joseph waiting years in slavery and prison before God elevated him (Genesis 37-50)
- David waiting over a decade to become king after being anointed (1 Samuel 16 – 2 Samuel 5)
Wait on the Lord
When you ask God for instant help, do not demand your own timing. Be willing to wait patiently for His answer as long as necessary. “It is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD” (Lamentations 3:26). Trust God’s timing and maintain hope in Him.
Align with God’s Will
As you urgently seek God’s help, submit your request to His will. Pray as Jesus did in the garden of Gethsemane: “Yet not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42). Align your heart with God’s desires, recognizing that His plans are for your good (Jeremiah 29:11).
Examples of Submission
Here are biblical examples of submission to God’s will:
- Jesus surrendering to God’s plan on the cross (Luke 23:46)
- Stephen praying for his killers while being martyred (Acts 7:59-60)
- Paul finding contentment in all circumstances through Christ (Philippians 4:10-13)
Your Will Be Done
As you urgently ask God for help, maintain a submissive heart. Pray His will be done, not yours. Trust that He knows what is best. Yielding to the Lord in prayer positions you to accept His response on His terms and timing.
Give Thanks
Gratitude should accompany prayers for urgent help. Thank God that He hears your cries and will answer according to His divine wisdom and love. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” (Philippians 4:6).
Examples of Thanks
Consider these examples of thanking God in desperate circumstances:
- Paul and Silas praying and singing hymns to God in prison (Acts 16:25)
- The ten lepers praising Jesus after their healing (Luke 17:15-16)
- Jonah thanking God for salvation from the belly of the fish (Jonah 2:9)
Thank Him in Faith
When urgently seeking God’s help, maintain an attitude of thanksgiving. Thank Him for hearing, caring and acting according to His perfect will. Thank Him in advance for His answer, believing by faith that He will respond.
Conclusion
Asking God for immediate assistance is a privilege available to all believers. Come to Him with faith, humility, specificity, persistence, patience, submission and gratitude. Sincere prayers offered to the Lord in times of great need will not go unanswered. He promises to be near to all who earnestly call on Him in their troubles (Psalm 145:18). Trust God to respond with His perfect wisdom and timing.