Learning To Ask For Help

A closed mouth doesn’t get fed. Although, not too many of us want to admit when we need something. We would rather pray for a miracle than to ask for help. However, learning to ask for help when you need it can open the doors for God to move. 

Learning To Ask For Help 

We would cringe when someone would say: “Let us know if you need, anything.” Really, like we’re going to ask? Well, at least that’s how we thought at the time.

When anyone endures hardship, it’s a very humbling experience to tell someone what you need. It not only puts you in an uncomfortable situation, but it allows others to know something intimate about you. To be honest, not too many of us want to get that personal with others.

God taught us this lesson during a time we had a great need, prideful, ashamed and embarrassed to ask.

Our Learning To Ask For Help Story

When we were coming out of the real estate industry, the transition was a process. We were getting a steady stream of income, but we were still trying to play catch up. One month we were short on our rent. We had just downsized our home with a payment more than half of our original mortgage, and we were still short. Now can you imagine how we felt?

We spent days contemplating what to do, and who we could ask to borrow the money. To be completely transparent, we were trying to determine who we didn’t want in our business. So we decided to ask a friend who did not attend our church, that way nobody in our circle would know.

A few days later, we met with our mentor, who often checked in with us to see how things were going during that transitional season. When she asked about our finances, hesitantly, we told her the truth that we were unable to pay our rent that month and had to ask a friend to borrow the money.

Our mentor was the type to make everything a teachable moment. So of course, she did just that. To our surprise, her encouragement was that we were moving to a new place of humility before the Lord. She went on to explain how proud she was of us for putting our pride aside and asking for help.

However, what troubled her heart the most was why we didn’t go to the church for help. She looked us in the eye and asked: “why didn’t you let someone in the church know that you needed help?”

It was at that moment when the Holy Spirit began to deal with us. We began to feel in our spirit that we were not done with this financial test because we still thought it was about our efforts. Even to the point of who we would allow to help us.

God Moves In the Asking

By the end of our conversation, she prayed with us and then said she believed it was for her to pay our rent. She went on to say that she was going to give us a check to pay back our friend.

We didn’t see that coming, but look at how beautifully God worked! Even in the midst of a teachable moment, letting our guard down, letting go of our pride, receiving counsel and surrendering to God, He moved on our behalf.

Andre soon shared that he got a word from the Lord. It is not about us doing what we have to do, it is about us doing what we know to do.

Wow! Think about that. We know that the body of Christ is one church body, then why is it that we keep our personal life separate?

Sure, we don’t mind talking about spiritual matters and blessings with each other. Nevertheless, the moment we hit rock bottom; we’re quick to get spiritual, but slow to be authentic to share what’s really going on.

However, when we ask for help, within the Body of Christ, we give the Church Body an opportunity to walk our scripture. 

So then, as occasion and opportunity open up to us, let us do good [morally] to all people [not only being useful or profitable to them, but also doing what is for their spiritual good and advantage]. Be mindful to be a blessing, especially to those of the household of faith [those who belong to God’s family with you, the believers]. ~ Galatians 6:10 (AMPC)

In The End

God began to show us that it’s not about what we know, it’s about who He is. And He will operate through anyone, anytime, and in any situation.

Learning to ask for help when you need it, doesn’t mean we tell everyone our business, and depend on others. What this does mean, is that we share as God leads, not with our ideas of how things should get done. Ultimately His ways far exceed ours.

“Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]” ~ Ephesians 3:20 (AMPC)

Asking for help can be uncomfortable. But when we allow God to lead our giving and our receiving; asking for help can lighten the load we’re not meant to carry alone.  Whether you need help with a meal, cleaning your home, making a decision, or prayer, ask God to show you who can confide in for help. 

~ André and Timberley Gray