“For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life: But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead: Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us; Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf.” (2 Corinthians 1:7-11)
There are times when nobody can (or will) help us. The situation has brought us to an end of our own selves. The trouble is such that we have no other place to look but up. It makes no use to cry out to family or friends. They are too far away (either in body or heart.) They may simply not be able to help us, even if they wanted to. The only help they can give is to pray. This is between God and us.
Is this a bad thing? Should we be frustrated, embittered, sullen because we have been brought so low? What if God Himself has orchestrated our predicament to cause us to fully depend upon Him and no one else (not even ourselves)? Whatever humbles us is good. Whatever drives us to our knees is good. Man’s extremity has always been God’s opportunity.
Too often we become self-reliant when people fail us. But God would not only break us from our dependence upon man, He would deliver us from our trust in ourselves. The world says that God helps those who help themselves; but God waits for the very opposite. When our best efforts to help ourselves have failed, He is is ready to hear our cry. And when He has come through for us we will not boast of ourselves or anyone else. We will give Him all the glory!