When We Only Call God in a Crisis

Before I start, I want to note that this post will reflect on Jelly Roll’s song “Need a Favor.” I want to say this clearly: I don’t support or endorse every lyric in this song. There are words and references in the song that I don’t agree with, and I’m not holding it up as a model of Christian faith.

But there is something honest in it. And sometimes, even imperfect expressions can surface a truth worth reflecting on.

When Honest Lyrics Reveal an Uncomfortable Pattern

I remember the first time I listened to “Need a Favor.” It wasn’t the melody that stuck with me; it was the honesty. The song captures something painfully familiar: a man who believes in God, respects God, maybe even loves God… but only reaches out when life falls apart.

The content is desperate. “I only talk to God when I need a favor.”

And if I’m honest, that line hit close to home. And I suspect I’m not the only one.

Because while the song may not come from a place of settled faith, it names a pattern many of us, Christians included, can quietly fall into.

The God We Call When We’re Out of Options

Most of us don’t mean to treat God like a last resort.

We pray before big decisions. We ask for help when things get hard. We cry out when we’re overwhelmed. None of that is wrong. Scripture actually invites us to do exactly that.

But there’s a subtle shift that can happen in our hearts.

God becomes the One we call when we’ve exhausted everything else. Prayer becomes reactive instead of relational. Faith becomes something we lean on in emergencies, not something that shapes our everyday lives.

James writes:

“You do not have, because you do not ask God.” James 4:2 (ESV)

But just a verse later, James presses deeper to show that it's not just about whether we ask, but why we ask: "You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions." Our posture matters as much as our request.

Faith That Shows Up Only When Life Breaks

Here’s the uncomfortable part: it’s possible to believe in God and still keep Him at arm’s length.

We can trust Him enough to call for help, but not enough to invite Him into our habits, decisions, and ordinary routines. We want His rescue, but not always His daily presence.

Jesus speaks to this kind of distance when He says,

“Abide in me, and I in you… for apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:4–5 (ESV)

Abiding isn’t crisis management. It’s closeness. It's a relationship.

And yet, many of us, including me at times, are better at crying out than staying connected.

Why We Drift Into “Favor-Only” Faith

I don’t think most of us intend to live this way.

Life gets busy. Routines get crowded. Faith quietly becomes something we fit in instead of something we walk with and prioritize. Prayer gets reduced to quick asks instead of an ongoing conversation.

We don’t stop believing. We just stop abiding.

And when trouble hits, we rush back to God, not because we’ve been walking closely, but because we suddenly realize how much we need Him.

The good news? God doesn’t turn us away when we come running back.

A God Who Hears Even Imperfect Prayers

One of the most comforting truths in Scripture is that God meets people where they are, not where they should be.

Psalm 34 says:

“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:18 (ESV)

God hears desperate prayers. He responds to messy faith. He listens even when our relationship with Him isn’t what it should be.

But He also invites us into something deeper than emergency-only faith. He offers daily companionship, not just occasional rescue.

From Asking for Favors to Walking in Fellowship

What if our faith wasn’t just about calling God when things fall apart, but about walking with Him before they do?

What if prayer became less about asking for outcomes and more about staying close with our Father?

Paul reminds us,

“Pray without ceasing." 1 Thessalonians 5:17 (ESV)

I don't think that means constant words. It means constant awareness. A life lived in conversation with God, not just when we need something, but because we always need Him.

And when we do ask for help (as we inevitably will) it comes from relationship, not desperation.

So let me ask you…

As I ask myself the same questions:

• When do I tend to talk to God the most: only in crisis, or in everyday life?

• What does my prayer life look like when things are going well?

• Where might I be treating God like a last resort instead of a constant companion?

• What would it look like to invite Him into my ordinary routines this week?

• How could my faith grow deeper than just asking for favors?

A Closing Word for Fellow Pilgrims

If you see yourself in that song, if your prayers have been sporadic, reactive, or driven by need, you’re not alone. And you’re not beyond God’s grace.

God doesn’t shame us for coming late. He welcomes us when we come honestly. But He also invites us into more than crisis-faith. He offers a life of nearness, trust, and daily dependence.

He's not just a God we call when we need a favor, but a God we walk with every step of the journey.

Until the journey is complete,

Jonathan Pilgrim.

P.S. This week, let's try one small shift: instead of starting our prayers with a request, let's start with presence. Let's sit with God for a minute. Acknowledge Him. Let the relationship come before the favor.