(The audio recording of this sermon will be uploaded here after the Sunday service.)
Good morning, everyone. Today, I want to share with you about “Our Real Help.”
When I was a child, I grew up in a poor family. But thankfully, when I was in elementary school, I didn’t realize I was poor — because all my classmates were poor too!
Even in middle school, I didn’t feel any big difference between rich and poor. Everyone around me was in a similar situation, so I didn’t feel like I was unhappy. The people around me were all poor. I didn’t think that life was unfair, either.
But when I entered high school, I finally realized how poor my family was. I went to Busan High School, and many of my classmates were from wealthy areas like Gwangalli and Haeundae. That’s when I started to see the difference.
Today, most students wear Nike sneakers, right? But when I was in high school, only a few students could afford them. There were about 65 students in one class, and maybe only five of them had those expensive brands — Nike, Asics, Adidas, Mizuno, or Puma. Everyone wanted Nike shoes, but for some reason, I liked Puma the most.
My father passed away about 28 years ago. Some of you may know that my father was a carpenter — not because he dreamed of becoming a carpenter, but because back then, most men had to work in construction to make a living. He did it to feed our family.
I really wanted those Puma sneakers, but I couldn’t bring myself to ask my father to buy them. I knew how poor our family was. I don’t think I ever really asked my father for anything. I had never asked him. I never said, “Dad, can you buy this for me?” because I knew how hard he worked. I didn’t want to burden him.
Years later, after I got married, my wife and I went to an outlet store to buy shoes. She asked me, “Honey, do you want to buy some sneakers? Maybe Nike?” And guess what I said? I said, “No, I want Puma.”
It took me 32 years — even after getting married — to finally fulfill that little dream from my childhood. I don’t have a pair of Pumas now, but maybe I’ll buy one someday.
You know, my background — the way I grew up — has deeply influenced my faith in God, too. Can you guess how? Yes, that’s right. I had a hard time asking God for something.
I always tried to solve my problems by myself. I rarely shared my problmes wiht other people. I really had a hard time asking people for something. It’s still not easy for me to ask others for help. I did pray to God, but I rarely asked Him for what I needed. It’s not that I doubted God’s help or God’s providence. It’s just that I felt uncomfortable asking.
I thought, “God already knows what I need. He’ll take care of it without me asking.” So, I didn’t ask Him for what I needed. But that was a big mistake — a foolish way of thinking.
Everyone, ask for help. Don’t be afraid to ask. Sometimes, problems can be solved so easily—if we just ask for help. But many people, especially men, stay silent and try to handle everything alone. Don’t do that.
Let me read Matthew 7:7-11. “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. Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”
We need to ask, seek, and knock. But don’t just ask, don’t just seek, and don’t just knock. Do it with prayer. Pray and ask for help with all your heart. Pray and search actively for answers. Pray and knock on the door with passion and faith.
Don’t give up just because someone said no once. Don’t give up just because you got rejected once. Keep asking, keep seeking, and keep knocking — again and again. Be persistent. And do it with prayer.
Jesus encourages us to pray persistently. He didn’t mean, “Only pray when you need something.” He is inviting us to build a trusting relationship with God through prayer in everyday life.
When Jesus said, “Everyone who asks receives; everyone who seeks finds,” He didn’t mean that God gives us everything we want. You know that, right?
When Jesus says, “Everyone who asks receives,” it’s a promise—that God will answer. Sometimes, God says “yes.” Other times, God says “no.” Still other times, God says “wait.” Maybe not in the way or time we expect, but in the way that is best for us. God’s timing and ways are perfect.
I hope our children also learn to ask God for help. When they need something, before they ask their parents, I hope they learn to pray to God first. Let’s help them grow up with the holy habit of praying to God. And even when God’s answer is “No” or “Wait,” I don’t want them to be disappointed and discouraged. I pray that they will keep trusting Him.
My kids have been praying for a long time to travel to the United States. They’ve been praying since 2021. It’s been more than four years! But God hasn’t answered that prayer yet. Next year, we really have to go, because my oldest daughter, Hannah, is graduating from college. We can’t give up. We’re going to keep praying — no matter what.
There’s something else I’ve been praying about too. I want to publish a book called “Jesus and the Kingdom of God Told by Matthew.”(Matthew’s Gospel: Part 2) I’ve been waiting almost five years. Still, I believe God will make it happen at the right time.
Recently, I started praying for a church building. As you know, I started a new church in Higashikurume shi not that far from Tokorozawa shi. I really believe that God will provide a place for our church.
I still have many prayers that haven’t been answered yet. To be honest with you, sometimes I feel disappointed. But I will not give up. Because I believe — someday, in His perfect time — God will answer every single one of them.
Brothers and sisters! Keep praying, and praying, and praying. Don’t stop. Be confident that God hears you. Go to Him boldly, because He’s a good Father. He listens carefully to every prayer. And He gives us what we really need — at the very best time.
Now, let’s take a look at today’s passage. Let me read Psalm 121:1-2. “I lift up my eyes to the mountains — where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.”
Psalm 121 is one of the Songs of Ascents — songs that the people of Israel sang as they traveled up to Jerusalem for worship. This psalm is a reminder that only God is our true help. In life, we all need help sometimes, right? Actually, we need help a lot.
In verses 1 and 2, the writer asks, “Where does my help come from?” He looks up to the mountains, but then he realizes, “My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.”
So, where does our help come from? Is it from our money that we’ve stacked up like a mountain? Is it from our knowledge, skills, and experiences? Is it from our network of people or our reputation? Where do we look when we need help? Our bank account? Our school record? Our abilities? Our connections? Of course, money is important for living. We need education to get jobs, skills to succeed, and connections to build careers. These things are not bad. But none of those things can truly save us or give us peace. They cannot give us the help that lasts forever.
Brothers and sisters, where does our real help come from? Real help — real strength — comes only from God. Sometimes, money works. Sometimes, talent works. Sometimes, knowing the right people helps. But one day, all those things will fail. There will come a time when none of them will work. So, before that day comes, let us practice lifting our eyes to God alone.
God is the Creator. Only He can give us the help we really need. If you’ve never said to God, “Lord, You are my true Helper,” then maybe today is the time to say it.
As I close, I want to say this one more time: Ask God. Keep asking. Keep praying. Don’t give up. Go to Him boldly. Ask for His mercy and grace. Tell Him what you need. And trust Him to answer —in His perfect way and in His perfect time. Let’s keep praying this week. Let’s keep trusting in God. And let’s believe that God will answer.
Let us pray.
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