God Helps Those Who Cannot Help Themselves
2 Cor. 12:9
When was the last time you rejoiced when you discovered that you were expected to do something that you could not do? Probably never! Most people become discouraged and upset when they discover that they lack the ability to do what is being required of them. This is because they have been taught that they should be
strong and independent and that the Bible teaches God helps those who help themselves. The truth is the Bible teaches just the opposite.
God wants an intimate relationship with us; so He created us to be dependent on Him for everything. His joy comes from us looking to Him for everything we need and He being able to supply our needs abundantly. But people tend to prefer to be self-sufficient and independent, and want to be able to take care of things themselves. They consider self-sufficiency a virtue that needs to be cultivated.
This was the reason for the fall of man and why Adam disobeyed God. He wanted to be able to do things without God’s help. So he declared his independence of God by eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Unfortunately, living independently of God produced sin, failure, disease and death.
Instead of encouraging us to be strong in ourselves, Jesus came to make us once again totally dependent on Him for everything. He told his disciples He was the vine and they were the branches and even as branches must depend on the vine to live and bear fruit, so apart from Him they would be able to do nothing. He taught them to abide in Him by faith and to receive their life and strength from Him directly.
Child of God, when we came into this world as babies we were helpless. We depended on our parents for everything. Then, we started to mature physically and became less and less dependent. Our goal was to reach the place where our parents no longer needed to care for us because we were fully self-sufficient. Physically, this is a mark of growth and maturity. Personal strength is a good thing physically.
But it works just the opposite spiritually! Spiritually, we grow in grace by becoming more and more dependent upon God. The more dependent we are, the more “grown up” we are spiritually. In the Kingdom of God, dependency is a virtue!
The truth is God does not help those who help themselves. Rather, He helps those who cannot help themselves. And the weaker we are, the better, if our sense of weakness causes us to give up our claim to self-sufficiency and leads us to cast ourselves totally upon the grace of God. In 2 Corinthians 12:9, St. Paul wrote: “And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore, most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
The Spirit of God spoke to my heart a few days ago in helping me to understand how Paul could glory in and boast in his weaknesses. He said to me, “God does his best work for us when we are not trying to do ours.” Let God do His best work. Give Him your weaknesses, like St. Paul did, that the power of Christ may rest upon you and His strength can be expressed perfectly through you.
Remember, God helps those who cannot help themselves!
A Moment of Grace 
I needed to hear this and it was at the right moment in my life when I felt God left me because of all the problems I have. Thank you so much. I know there is a scripture that says god helps those who can not help themselves but I can’t find it.
Deep, true and life changing. Thanks Bishop.
Thanks
I discovered this simple truth in my walk with God that is not the number of things I accomplish that makes the difference with God but simply my willingness to draw near in my intimacy with Him to discover his infinite love for me and so I don’t have to try to be what other people want me to be or live by their expectations, I simply have to be the person that I was created to be full of life, peace, and joy knowing that it has already been fulfilled for me in Christ Jesus. If we don’t learn to appreciate and rejoice over the life God has given us what then is our purpose on this earth. We must always be reminded that God’s presence in our midst is about receiving the fullness of joy and walking in the freedom that Christ has purchased for me at the cross. I have found too many frustrated and unhappy Christians for the simple fact that they are not enjoying life but rather isolate themselves because of fear or preconceived idea. God calls to live in freedom and be fulfilled. This simple revelation has made to enjoy my fellowship with God even more and draw me to want Him even more. It is all about finding the freedom within through manifesting your difference because you are unique and distinct.
Thanks Bishop. Patrick
Thank you for this…I have sent it out to two dear friends who appreciate it…
yours in Christ Jesus and through the bonds of His Love
Theta
You are welcome