I had a Japanese assignment to take a survey in Japanese of only Japanese people and present the results. I choose for my questions “Who do you go to for help?” and “Why do you chose that person?” I ask these questions because it is a common experience that everyone can relate to and I personally have pondered this topic over the past few years.

I asked 19 people that I know from work and church. There age ranged from teenagers to folks in their forties. There were 8 men and 11 women in the group. There were students, teachers, office workers, a pastor, and a housewife. Most were single but 6 were either married or engaged. When asked who do they go to for help the most popular answer among married people was their spouse (not so surprising). The most popular answer among single folks was close friends (again, not so surprising). Other answers included: “parents”, “boss”, (and since I ask folks from church) “God/Jesus”, “pastor”, and “trusted church members.”

When asked why they chose that person, about half the group said that it was because the other person knew alot about them. About a third of the group said that it was because the other person could be trusted. Other answers included: easy to talk to; can understand the problem; they can help; etc.

What was interesting is that of those who were under 30, the most popular answer was that the other person knew all about them. However those over 30, almost all said it was because the other person could be trusted. I’m not sure if that is because of discernment or cynicism. In any case, it seems that we all go to different people when we need help but it is all for similar reasons; they understand, they know about the us, they can help, they can be trusted.

I am so glad that there is a God in Heaven who can far exceed each of these points and who commands us to call out to Him and promises to help His children.

Then Jonah prayed to the LORD his God from the stomach of the fish, and he said, “I called out of my distress to the LORD, And He answered me I cried for help from the depth of Sheol; You heard my voice. – Jonah 2:1-2