Assistance Requested
We’ve all heard the story. A man and his wife are going on a road trip and he knows a shortcut. Next thing they know, she’s telling him to ask for directions and he’s refusing. This cliché has been used so often it’s become a male trademark.
My husband assured me that this is the way most men are. They like to tinker, he says, figure stuff out on their own. They don’t like to ask for help.
I know many women will be rolling their eyes and nodding their heads at this, but… let’s be honest with ourselves, ladies. Most of us are just as bad when it comes to admitting we need help. Especially moms.
The need to prove ourselves and not be thought of as incompetent is a gender neutral trait. For many of us, saying we need help with something is like confessing that we don’t quite measure up.
Just the other day I was trying to make my husband breakfast and ran out of hands. He didn’t mind helping at all, but boy did I mind needing it.
Then I read Exodus 18:23:
“If you do this thing, and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all this people will also go to their place in peace.”
At first glance, that sounds like a call to arms, doesn’t it? People need you! You can endure! Pull yourself up and get it done!
But this verse tells a different story when placed in proper context.
Exodus 18 tells about how Moses’s father-in-law came round for a visit and offered some advice. He saw that Moses was sitting with the people every day to listen to and judge their disputes. Moses was getting worn out and wasn’t even able to help all the people.
His father-in-law basically told him to knock it off and ask for help. He told Moses he would get burned out by trying to do everything himself and that he needed to appoint leaders under him to help govern the people.
So it will be easier for you, for they will bear the burden with you.
Ex. 18:22b
The ‘thing’ Moses was commanded to do in verse 23 was to ask for help.
Now, I’ve known people who take asking for things way too far. We shouldn’t use this as an excuse to do less than our best and get lazy. We should, however, obey God’s command to let go of some blood-sweat-and-tears pride and let Him help.
It was for this reason that He gave us the Sabbath. In Mark 2:27 Jesus tells us that the Sabbath was made for man. And God was the one who ordered all the holidays and celebrations in the Jewish culture.
He doesn’t want us killing ourselves to try and impress Him or other or ourselves or whomever. He has scheduled us break-times.
Take a look at your To Do List. Even if every item on there is for the purpose of furthering the Kingdom, if there’s no room for rest and spending time with the Lord, it’s time to re-prioritize.
David Wilkerson once said, “God cares more about saving all of you, than He does about you saving all the world.” (slightly paraphrased)
It’s true. You are important to God. He loves you and longs to help you. He wants you for a child, not a slave.
All of us have bitten off more than we can chew before, and we’ll probably do it again. Trying to do everything by ourselves won’t benefit anyone. God wants to help, and He’s put other people in our lives to help, too.
So cut yourself a little slack. Take a break and enjoy the Lord for a few minutes. Rest in Him and let Him carry your extra workload. He’s here to help, if you let Him.
