Help!

Luke 18: 40 – 42
Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?”

“Lord, I want to see,” he replied.

Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God.

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A couple of weeks ago, on one of our super hot Florida days, I noticed a lady as I was coming in from my mom van.  An apparent runner was leaning against a neighbor’s tree and seemed exhausted. 

Thinking I could help, I grabbed a bottle of Gatorade and took it to her at the end of the driveway.  As I offered her the bottle she replied she was fine.  I told her I knew it was exceptionally hot and I had seen her leaning on the tree as if very hot.  She again refused my help, thanked me and walked on.

I was struck with the obvious.  She was hot and in need, yet she refused help. Could this be why Jesus asked the obvious question, “What do you want me to do for you?” Rather than offering sight to the blind man, maybe Jesus knew he needed to ask for help first.

Moms, it is so easy to be drowning in our everyday lives, our own pride, our own shame, our own fear, so we don’t ask for help.  No, our husbands or families or friends, can’t take all our problems and make them right, but they can help you shoulder the burden.

One of my Mommy friends texted me yesterday, with a simple plea for help, “I’m going to need a little extra prayer today.”  I was honored to pray for her and the circumstances of her life.  I was also very proud she was willing to ask for help.

It has been an on-going lesson to teach our children to ask for help, but I think it is a lesson we need to continue to remember too! Let’s not be too proud to ask for help.  Jesus is asking us, “What do you want me to do for you today?”

The Father's Way

“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45 (NIV)

It was a normal, ordinary day at track practice. I was in college going over a new hurdle workout with my coach when the most unexpected thing happened…I slammed into a hurdle, flipped upside down in the air, caught myself on the way down with my left hand, and broke my left wrist. I was shocked. I was hurt. I had surgery and went through extensive physical therapy. In fact, I still have a titanium screw in my wrist and little scar as a reminder.

BUT the thing I remember the most is that God taught me two very important lessons:

1. The power of service in the life of a believer
2. How to ask for help

I will never forget how one of my friends (not even one I would have considerrd a “best friend”), stepped up and served me during that time. She was incredibly strong in her walk with the Lord, she was fun, and she was busy. She volunteered a lot with Athletes in Action/Fellowship of Christian Athletes and she was on our college soccer team. Yet, after I had surgery, she drove out of her way to pick me up and take me to class and take me back home. She even stayed at my house a few times and helped me with little things like putting my hair up in a pony tail. Looking back she acted like so much more than a great friend; she showed me the love of Christ. She showed me faith in action.

The second concept, asking for help, was also a novel idea to me. I had always been pretty self-sufficient and independent (or so I thought), but God was teaching me that I needed the body of believers. I could not do everything on my own, and I needed to ask for help. We are blessed and allow others to be a blessing when we simply learn to ask for and accept help. There are no extra points for doing everything on your own. In fact, God’s word makes it very clear that we can do nothing apart from Him (John 15:5). Through this injury, God was teaching me to that I was not a self-made girl. Everything good that I had done was with his help and the help of others…whether I had realized that before or not.

So, in what ways can you put action to your faith and serve those in your sphere of influence? In what area of your life can you experience the beauty of the body of faith by asking for help?

Heavenly Father,
Everything begins and ends with you. You are our light-bearer. You are our rock. You are the source of our salvation. You are the Creator of the entire world, yet you served us. You sent your son, Jesus, to model you for us, and he served. He even washed the dirty, sandy-laden feet of his disciples. Please help us to follow in your ways and to serve others in a way that truly pleases you. And God in those times when we are worn out, please help us to humble ourselves and ask for help so that we can be blessed by the body of believers. In Jesus’ name, Amen.