May 30, 2025

“Pizza Help”

The other day, I was driving to an appointment.  I passed a local restaurant that primarily sells pizza.  The sign caught my eye.  “Life Happens Pizza Help.”  Now, I am guessing the sign said, “Life Happens Pizza Helps" at one point, and somewhere along the way, the “s” at the end of the phrase somehow went away. 

Either way, I am amused.  “Life Happens Pizza Helps” is a cute little declaration to catch your attention when you might be having a bad or trying day. Get some pizza.  That will help.

“Life Happens Pizza Help” is a plea for help!  It sounds like life is happening to someone, and they don’t know where to turn. They really don’t know!  They must be desperate to cry out to pizza!

All of which can serve to make us question, when life happens to you, what do you find that helps, or where, or to what do you turn?

Personally, when I'm having a bad day or a tough time, I do want comfort food at times.  If I'm not feeling well physically, it's probably soup of some kind.  If it's more of an emotional, mental issue, I probably crave salty and sweet.  And lots of it.

When “Life Happens,” some people turn to even less healthy “comforts, where excess can be even more destructive.  Sometimes, they make more issues for themselves, and even others, as they seek to “deal with” something.  If you are not careful, “Life Happens” can spiral and grow. Life gets worse and worse while you are dealing with it, or because you are dealing with it.

Where can one turn?  What can help when life happens, that actually helps?

If we say we believe in God, in Jesus as Lord and Savior, that's the place to start.  I can’t tell you how many people I have counseled over the years, believers who forget this, or don’t understand it.  I will listen to them talk about a situation and then ask, “How are you praying about that?”  The usual response is, “I am not.”  Well, why not!? 

1 Peter 5:7 “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”

Psalm 55:22 “Give your burdens to the LORD, and he will take care of you.  He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.”

Matthew 11:28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

Why wouldn’t we turn to God first when we are struggling with something?  Sadly, many don’t.  Or, if they do, God is their last resort.  Pizza might help you forget about something for a few minutes – pizza might distract you from something for a few minutes.  But pizza won’t solve anything.  God can help you solve things.  God can do things for you that you cannot do yourself; things you might not have even considered.  At the very least, God will be with you through it all, whatever the issue is, if you turn to him. 

Life Happens.  God helps.

Or as Jesus says, “In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

Grace, Mercy, and Peace,

Pastor Blaine