Some of the toughest words for me to say in life have been the words, “I NEED YOUR HELP.” Let’s face it, we all like to feel we have everything under control and asking for help could be interpreted as a sign of weakness and none of us wants to admit that. I experienced this through my sickness when I almost died in 2005. (For details of God’s deliverance see the link for my story.) God has been gracious enough to teach me some good lessons in living in dependence upon Him in my weakness. Along with that, He has taught me the value of not just being willing to ask for help, but being open to the help He provides in a variety of ways.
How are you in admitting weakness and asking for help?
None of us are very good at it. We begin life living in dependence on our parents and then move from dependent to independent as we grow. Unfortunately, the same holds true with God. When we are at our best, spiritually speaking, we are seeking Him at every turn to draw life, breath, direction, etc. As we get caught up in life, however, we turn from being dependent to independent and rather than ask for help, we try to make it through life on our own.
The Bible points out that resistance to asking for help is falling into the trap of pride, which is not the way to go.
Proverbs 16:18 (ESV) Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
“I need your help.”
Practically speaking; think of all the problems that could be avoided in relationships, in finances, in life if we could just learn to say those words before it’s too late. Think of how many times you should have been open about your weakness but instead have “faked it” and regretted it. It’s just better to be honest with others, but especially with God.
We may have a hard time saying “I need your help” to God, but God knows it and has given us instruction to overcome our pride. His Word says to ask, to seek, and to knock and He has made it clear that we don’t receive some things because we simply don’t ask.
Luke 11:9-10 (ESV) 9 And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.
James 4:2 (ESV) You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask.
One of the saddest portions of the Bible is found in Psalm 81 where God describes what could have been, but His people simply would not ask.
Psalms 81:10-16 (ESV) 10 I am the Lord your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it. 11 “But my people did not listen to my voice; Israel would not submit to me. 12 So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts, to follow their own counsels. 13 Oh, that my people would listen to me, that Israel would walk in my ways! 14 I would soon subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their foes. 15 Those who hate the Lord would cringe toward him, and their fate would last forever. 16 But he would feed you with the finest of the wheat, and with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.”
I think you get the picture. We miss out on many things in life because we simply do not ask and God says it’s a pride thing so he tells us specifically to humble ourselves. How? By giving Him our burdens in prayer or, if you please, asking for help.
1 Peter 5:6-7 (ESV) 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
It’s not like God doesn’t care that might cause us to avoid asking for help because the Bible assures us over and over that He does care. After all, if He’s given the best to secure your salvation, wouldn’t it make sense that He cares enough to see you through life?
Romans 8:32 (ESV) — 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?
Philippians 1:6 (ESV) — 6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
The problem of our not asking is not with God – it’s our own problem of trying to make it through life on our own, but WE CAN’T! God graciously uses the circumstances of life to show us this principle over and over. The sooner we admit it to God – the sooner help will come.
Where do you need help today?
There was a man who came to Jesus and asked for help and when Jesus told him help was on the way all he had to do was believe – he admitted his greatest need at that time was to overcome his unbelief. Maybe that’s a place to begin.
Regardless of where you are or what you are doing – admitting your need of help is not a sign of weakness, but an intelligent move toward getting an answer.
Godspeed,
Bob Brubaker
