There are three little words most of us would rather avoid. They’re not complicated, they’re not dramatic, and they’re certainly not printed on any T‑shirt we’d proudly wear. But they make us hesitate just a bit: I need help. Funny thing is, those words show up in the aisles of Lowe’s, in the middle of a living room full of toys, and in the quiet places of our hearts where God does His best work.
It seems like there is always something at our church that needs to be repaired, replaced, or figured out. Over the years, I’ve become a jack of all trades and master of none — emphasis on none. If the job isn’t too big or beyond my proverbial pay-grade, I usually roll up my sleeves and give it a go.
This particular project seemed simple. All I needed to do was replace three rivets on a metal entryway to our Family Life Center. Easy, right? Famous last words.
After arriving at Lowe’s, the search began. I quickly found sheet‑metal screws thanks to AI — which, I must say, is very helpful when it’s not trying to take over the world. But finding the rivets? That was a different adventure.
I knew they had to be in the hardware section, but they were nowhere to be found. That’s when the egotistical male side of me kicked in. I was determined to find those 3/16 aluminum rivets without asking anyone for help. Men, you know exactly what I mean — as Garfield the Cat so wisely said, “I resemble that remark.”
I walked those aisles so many times I’m surprised my footprints didn’t wear a path in the floor. Finally, a young man at the checkout noticed the bewildered look on my face and asked with a big smile, “Can I help you with something?”
I swallowed my pride and told him what I was looking for. After checking his handheld device, he said the sweetest words I’d heard all day: “Aisle 3 — Bay 20.” I had scanned that area several times already — key word scanned — but this time I went looking with purpose. And sure enough, the rivets were right where he said they’d be. Not obvious, not flashy, but exactly where they needed to be.
What struck me most was his eagerness to help. “If you need help finding it, just let me know,” he said. And wouldn’t you know it — once I had the right rivets, the door was a three‑minute fix. Three minutes. I spent more time wandering the aisles than fixing the problem.
A few days later, our granddaughters were visiting. They were having the time of their lives playing on the floor with their toys when suddenly Quinn, who is three and a half, began trying to explain something to me. I couldn’t quite figure out what she needed. Finally, with drooped shoulders and a dramatic sigh only a toddler can deliver, she said, “Granddad, I need help.”
She couldn’t fully explain the problem, but she knew enough to ask. Once she showed me what she needed, I was able to help — and she was happy again.
These everyday moments — a hardware store, a living room floor — reveal a spiritual truth: we all need help. And the Lord stands right beside us, smiling, asking the same question that young man asked me: “Can I help you with something?”
Far too often, we try to fix things on our own — problems, decisions, burdens, relationships, worries — while God stands ready, willing, and able to guide us. He knows the aisle. He knows the bay. He knows exactly where the thing we’re searching for is tucked away.
My dad understood this well. He kept a sign in his shop that read:
“Things that are lost are found easier when you ask God for help. I have lost many things in this shop, and it amazes me that I found them when I ask God to help me.”
Scripture reminds us in Matthew 7:7–8:
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”
God isn’t hiding. He’s inviting.
So, here’s something to ponder today: What aisle are you wandering? What rivet are you trying to find on your own? Whatever it is, be willing to say with a sincere heart, “Lord, I need help.” He’s already standing there — smiling, patient, and ready to guide you straight to Bay 20.
Be blessed, my friend. And while you’re at it, may your day be filled with God’s gentle nudges and maybe fewer trips up and down the aisles.