Help Me!

This is a little story the Lord gave me a few years ago. Maybe it'll help somebody as it did me.

A Parable

A business owner was growing increasingly concerned about the dubious stability of his establishment. The economy was in a downturn and, short of a miracle, he would lose everything he owned.

Being a man of faith, he turned to the One in Whom he knew he could put his trust. He prayed, "God help me! I'm about to lose my business."

The economy worsened, his business failed and he was left financially destitute.

The loss of his income had the predictable affect on his marriage. He and his wife squabbled and quarreled incessantly about money. Their arguments became more and more heated and, short of a miracle, divorce was inevitable.

Being a man of faith, he turned to the One in Whom he knew he could put his trust. He prayed, "God help me! I'm about to lose my wife."

The relationship worsened, his marriage failed and he was left, of course, emotionally bereft.

The stress and strain of the poor man's successive losses wore him down physically. He became deathly ill. He even found himself consigned to a hospital bed. His doctor told him, short of a miracle, he had little time to live.

Being a man of faith, he turned to the One in Whom he knew he could put his trust. He prayed, "God help me! I'm about to lose my life."

His health worsened, his strength failed and he left this life alone.

The man awoke in Heaven and he raised his eyes to God on His throne. The befuddlement must've shown on the man's face. The Lord asked, "What seems to be the problem?"

The man respond with no small amount of exasperation. "I don't understand. I asked you three times to help me. I lost my finances, my family and my life. Why didn't you help me?"

His Lord, with tender patience and infinite wisdom, placidly responded to His forlorn child, "Help you? I brought you home, didn't I?"