年輕時，我覺得祈求上帝幫助我能按時交稿似乎不太好，因我心想：其他人有更大的需要！他們可能正面臨家庭問題、健康危機、職場失意、經濟困難等，而我也曾經歷這些困境。所以，要在截稿期限前完成稿件這種小事，似乎不值得帶到上帝面前。然而，當我看到聖經多處記載，無論人們面對何種挑戰，上帝都會幫助他們，我的想法就改變了。

例如，撒母耳記上講述，當以色列民聚集在米斯巴，聽見非利士人要來攻打他們，他們就恐懼驚惶地對撒母耳說：「願你不住地為我們呼求耶和華──我們的上帝，救我們脫離非利士人的手」（7章8節）。於是，撒母耳獻上一隻羊羔為燔祭，又為以色列民向上帝呼求，上帝就應允他（9節）。

「撒母耳正在獻上燔祭的時候，非利士人前來要與以色列人爭戰。當天，耶和華發出極大的雷聲，攻擊非利士人，使他們潰亂，他們就在以色列人面前被擊敗」（10節，新譯本）。

後來，「撒母耳將一塊石頭立在米斯巴和善的中間，給石頭起名叫以便以謝，說：『到如今耶和華都幫助我們』」（12節）。撒母耳豎立這塊石頭，為要紀念上帝幫助祂的子民。「以便以謝」的意思就是「幫助之石」。

無論遇到大事或小事，我們都可以尋求上帝的幫助，今天就來呼求祂吧！

When I was younger, I thought it improper to ask God to help me meet writing deadlines. Other people have greater needs, I told myself. Family problems. Health crises. Job letdowns. Financial needs. I’ve faced all those things too. But meeting a writing deadline seemed too small to take to God. I changed my view, however, after finding multiple examples in the Bible of God helping people regardless of the challenge they faced.

In one story, the Israelites were dismayed because they faced an attack at Mizpah by their enemies, the Philistines. “[The Israelites] said to Samuel, ‘Do not stop crying out to the Lord our God for us, that he may rescue us from the hand of the Philistines’ ” (1 Samuel 7:8). In response, Samuel sacrificed a lamb to God, crying out to Him on Israel’s behalf, “and the Lord answered him” (v. 9).

“While Samuel was sacrificing the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to engage Israel in battle. But that day the Lord thundered with loud thunder against the Philistines and threw them into such a panic that they were routed before the Israelites” (v. 10).

Later, “Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, ‘Thus far the Lord has helped us’ ” (v. 12). Samuel placed the stone to commemorate God helping His people. Ebenezer means “stone of help.”

Asking God for help is always proper. Let’s call out to Him today.