It isn’t an easy thing to ask for help. We don’t want to bother people. We don’t know if they truly desire to help, or if we would be overwhelming them. We think we need to navigate every challenge on our own. We fear being perceived as weak or inept.
But the truth is we all need help from time to time.
The help does not need to be taxing as it can at times be quite as simple as an email or a text message. Sometimes we just need to know that someone knows and is on the other end.
Recently a verse provoked some thought:
“But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at last you have revived your concern for me;
indeed, you were concerned before,
but you lacked opportunity.”
(Philippians 4:10, NASB)
Paul knew his friends or companions were always concerned about him. And rightly so, for Paul faced much danger, difficulties, and persecution.
The words which stood out were > “but you lacked opportunity.”
I began to wonder if they lacked opportunity because Paul did not ask for their help. Looking at other versions brought insight:
- “I know you have always been concerned for me, but you didn’t have the chance to help me.” (NLT)
- “I don’t mean that you had forgotten me, but up till now you had no opportunity of expressing your concern.” (Phillips)
We may have those in our lives who would desire to help us if given the chance. They desire to express their concern towards us but we close ourselves in and them out.
Asking for help can benefit us in several ways:
- We get the help we need. Our burdens or load is lighter, is lifted, when others come alongside of us.
- We stay connected to one another. The connection conveys the love we feel towards one another.
- We are strengthened. There is a strength which we draw from one another. We all are not strong at the same time.
Let’s give people an opportunity to show their concern.
And may we take every opportunity to show our concern for others.
Let’s be a help to one another.
“Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor.
For
if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion.
But woe to
the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up.
Furthermore, if two lie down together they keep warm, but how can one be warm alone?
And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him.
A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart.”
(Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, NASB)
Reflection:
What keeps you from asking for help? How do you respond when asked for help?
Image by Bianca Raedler from Pixabay
Asking for help is hard - it asks for discernment of whom to ask. After all, asking for help leaves us vulnerable in so many ways. I am better at it now that I was before - we are not designed to walk alone in our challenges, in our ministries, in our everyday ordinary. This Monday morning post is a sweet reminder to reach out and allow ourselves to be reached.
ReplyDeleteAnother benefit of asking for help is that it humbles us. We realize we're not self-sufficient, that we can't do it all. That's hard, but a good reminder--as are all the ones you mentioned. Another just came to mind--it allows others to exercise their gifts and be a blessing.
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