There was a time I had a really difficult time letting other people help me with…anything. I realize now that was a fruit of pride so when I decided to try and live my life by the fruit of the spirit, I had to really dig down and figure out why that bothered me so badly. For me, it was because I thought I could do everything the best way possible so there wasn’t much else someone else could do for me. When I realized this was wrong of me, I asked God to convict me and show me how to be brought out of thinking that way and holding on to so much pride. As always, He delivered and as usual, it really hurt.

We came into a season of life where lack and frustration was superfluous in our lives. We were provided for in so many ways, yet at the same time there many ways we lacked basic needs and money was TIGHT. We were now in a position where we had to count on other people just to survive. I remember the first time James 4:2-3 came alive for me, “You do not have because you do not ask God.” or, “You have not because you ask not.”. The rest of the verse is important, but I realized that this meant not just asking God but asking others around me. I started asking for help on Facebook. I tried my best to not make whiny, pity party posts for sympathy but simple posts only asking for what we needed. I started out with the small things and people were more than happy to help! Then, without my asking for bigger things, those needs started getting met as well. Something I have learned over the years is that when I move, God moves. Many times, He isn’t withholding blessings or life from me but He’s waiting on me to be obedient or to honor His character and to MOVE and do something! I moved, God moved. For many years I’ve wanted to play the cello. I recently saw one on Facebook marketplace and it was so pretty but expensive. I was prompted to ask again on Facebook, so I just stated simply that I’ve always wanted one and wanted to learn to play, and I wondered if anyone had a cello they didn’t need or want. Within two weeks of that post, I had a new cello in my living room that made its way from a neighboring state to be with me!

Sometimes, your plan is only realized when you allow someone to help you.

Genesis 24 tells us how Abraham sent his servant to find a wife for Isaac. The servant didn’t know how to just go and find a wife for someone with just a few instructions on who not to bring. What if he found someone but she was unwilling to come? There are a LOT of “what if’s?” here, but Abraham was adamant the servant go and find Isaac a wife. The servant knew where to go but again, didn’t know how. However, Abraham, Isaac, and the servant just had faith that God would show him where to go. I’m sure Abraham picked this particular servant because he was wise but most of all because he had the same faith that Abraham himself had. Believers must have faith that other believers are going to pull through for them. When we are full of pride it’s often because we have faced the consequences of humanity and have been let down and hurt by both Christians and the world. “It’s me and mine” kind of attitude is against everything the character of God stands for, unless you are counting the “mine” as every single person in the world. While there can be boundaries in place on the who and what and why and where, there is no limit on how God wants you to help the others in the world. What He asks of me will be different than what He asks of you, but they are equally important to someone else.

I want to challenge both you AND me to start responding as Jesus would when we see the needs of others. It can be difficult because it’s human instinct to hold on to what we have, especially where our personal idols are (giving money is hard for me because of the lack we once had, so that’s typically what He calls me to do) but we are called, commanded, and knit together to be like Him. Let’s be obedient and open in learning how to give freely as well as receive freely.