Jesus prays for us in our troubles asking the Helper to be with us all the time.

“Be not far from me, for trouble is near, and there is none to help. (Psalm 22:11) And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. (John 14-16-17)”

Everyone prays when they are in serious trouble because at its core, ‘prayer’ is just asking for help. Those who know God, know that He is able to help us but we all sometimes doubt whether He is willing to help us. This is what makes people look for ways to perhaps get God to be more willing to help.

Some forms of Christianity turn to priests or saints. In the case of priests, it is believed that they have some special dispensation or authority to plead with God on behalf of us ordinary folk. Some believe that saints are Christians who have lived such good lives their good deeds qualify them to get a special ‘purchase-hold’ on God. If you get a saint to pray for you, God will be more willing to help you.

Others think that if the ‘pastor’ prays for them, or the ‘elders’ pray for them, God will be more willing to help. Many seem to think that God will be more keen to help if more people pray. And then there are those who don’t believe anyone needs to pray for us. We just need to pray for ourselves directly to God and He might help if He wants to. Thankfully, the truth Jesus teaches us is so much better.

When King David was in deep trouble, he asks God for help because there is no one else to ask. Sometimes our troubles are genuinely beyond the ability of anyone else’s help. Or sadly, maybe we have no one to ask?

Surprisingly, David doesn’t ask God to take his troubles away but asks God to be near. In troubles God feels far away. I can see my troubles, I can feel my troubles, but God… He’s a million light years away! David’s prayer was answered by God in more ways than he ever imagined.

One of David’s descendants, Jesus, faced exquisite suffering in troubles that few will ever go through. Jesus said that He will pray to the Father for His disciples. Amazingly, Jesus prays for exactly what David prayed for: help and closeness. Jesus asks the Father to send a Helper who will be so close to us He will live with us and even in us! And forever too!

Here’s the beautiful truth: We do need Someone to pray for us and that’s exactly what Jesus does. We know God will say ‘yes’ to Jesus because Jesus lived a perfect life and it was the Father’s will to send Jesus to die for us. He deliberately underwent incredible troubles in order to be a perfect Priest who relates to us in our troubles.