Help | Paula Wiseman

Apologizing for Asking

Maybe you've done this-

Some burden has weighed you down, some deep emotional crisis has gripped your soul and you've found one of your good, close friends to spill it all to. And after your good friend listens, comforts, and holds you up, you finish the conversation with "I'm sorry."

I'm sorry to take up your time. I'm sorry to unload all this on you. I'm sorry to be such a basket case.

That's how I always seem to finish those conversations, anyway.

Somehow, somewhere, we got that idea that needing help was shameful. That's not true.

When God created Adam and Eve, according to His perfect plan, He made them with an innate need for each other's help and with an ability to provide that help. That was before the Fall.

There is no sin in needing help and no shame in asking for it. Instead it is wisdom.

Filed Under: Living Tagged With: help

STT: Fulfilling Your Commission

By Paula

The last couple of weeks, we've looked at the value of sharing the insights you gain from your study. Last Tuesday, we discussed our own take-aways -actions we may need to take or attitudes that may need a tweak.

These two mesh together to help us carry out that "second greatest commandment" Jesus affirms in Luke 10:27- the "love your neighbor as yourself" part. Christianity, at its core, is about relationship. God seeks us for a relationship with Him, and as a natural extension, He expects us to build relationships with others. More specifically, He expects us to love others the way He does.

Bible study can help you to carry out this directive in several ways.

First, Scripture reveals the human condition. We're all fallen and failed, and in desperate need of God's grace. It's just that some of us have accepted that gift. Focused time in God's word will root out self-righteousness and grow our compassion for those around us.

Second, Scripture describes human nature. In the Proverbs, the Gospels and the Old Testament stories, we see a cast of characters that we immediately recognize. We regularly come in contact with (or maybe we are) fools, young hotshots, innocents who can't seem to get a break, schemers, women who take on too much and countless others. God's word gives us a deeper understanding of these folks and often gives examples on how to respond to them.

Third, Scripture addresses human circumstances. Loss, poverty, frustration, sickness, anxiety, good fortune, uncertainty, triumph, tragedy and many others get their share of ink in Scripture. Regular study helps us find comfort and context for ourselves and for others.

As you study be aware of passages or principles that will help you minister to others, and so fulfill your personal great commission.

Help Needed

By Paula

A few evenings ago, I was snoozing through whatever non-Disney Channel show happened to be on, when I heard rustling… and struggling… and fussing. The sounds of utter frustration. So I blinked myself awake enough to follow the sounds and found my son's sheets stripped from his bed, new sheets in a wad, and Alan had had enough. He tried and tried and tried and he could NOT get the fitted sheet on that bed.

"Did you ask for help?"
"No."
"Do you want help?"
"Yes."
I picked up the fitted sheet and we had the bed made in a few minutes.
"Thanks for your help, Mom."
"Anytime."

While I could discuss the miracle of a 9 year old boy changing his own bedsheets, I want to focus on his aggravation.

I saw myself in Alan's struggle. How many times do I wrestle with a problem, growing more frustrated, more discouraged all the time when help is readily available. I have a great High Priest who sympathizes with my situation, whatever it is.

"Did you ask for help?"
"No."
"Do you want help?"

That's where I fail. I set a false standard for what I 'should' be able to handle, and what is an acceptable difficulty level to warrant reinforcements. I stubbornly refuse to ask, determined to handle things myself. That's stupid.

I don't have to struggle. I just have to ask.

Filed Under: Alan, Devotional Tagged With: Frustration, Hebrews, help