Asking for help is not always easy, but if you are in need of advice where is the right place to turn? There are many searching for answers to the troubles of life but even more who don’t believe they need any advice at all. This post is going to help you understand why we all need to seek counsel at times and where we should start.
Asking God for help
Human beings are social creatures. We not only need each other to thrive but we quite literally go insane when we are isolated from human connection. We were not created to do things alone.
If you look at kingdoms of old, nations that were victorious in war and civilizations that changed the world politically, economically, culturally and even spiritually you will see that every great leader sought counsel from their friends, family, advisors, and especially their wives. It is important to understand that even Kings needed counsel. If that is the case, then we can assume that everyone on earth needs help/advice. It takes a strong man/woman to admit when they need help and it takes courage to seek out that help when they have reached a breaking point.
What do we do when we don’t have family?? Who do we turn to when we have no friends? What advice can a civilian access when they aren’t surrounded by advisors or counselors? The answer is that we can and should always turn to God.
What did Jesus say when people told him that his family was looking for him?
Matthew 12:46-50 “While He was still speaking to the crowds, behold, His mother and brothers were standing outside, seeking to speak to Him. [Someone said to Him, “Look, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak to You.”] But Jesus replied to the one who was telling Him and said, “Who is My mother, and who are My brothers?” And extending His hand toward His disciples He said, “Behold: My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother, and sister and mother.”
Jesus taught us by example that our family are those who do the will of our Father in heaven. So if you are without friends or family and you feel that you are all alone in this world please understand that this is not the case. You are never alone, God is always with you and the family that you wish you had just has not met you yet. If you do know someone from work, school or church or even the grocery store near you that is always kind and shows you that they care for you ask them for their advice. It is ok to ask for help and in fact sometimes it is necessary. You can also seek counsel from a faith based therapist through your local church there are many who work through the church to help people who are struggling.
To ask God for help, pray. Set time aside each day to devote time to praying about the things you are struggling with. You don’t need to have all the right words, God knows what we need before we even say a thing. Ask Him what you should do and let go of the old ways that you used to handle things. We can make many things in life our idols: food, alcohol, drugs, etc.., but the only thing that truly fulfills us is the one who made us. Spend time in prayer and then spend time reading His word.
Asking God for help verses in the bible to look for
You can read your bible or if you don’t have one there are bible apps that you can download for free. The best place to start reading when you are needing help is the book of Psalms (songs of encouragement), Proverbs and Ecclesiastes ( verses for wisdom and advice for life). These books are simple, relatable and a good place to start for anyone who has not read much, if any, of the bible.
Why is it so hard to ask for help?
Sometimes we don’t ask for help because we think we are “bothering” people. Sometimes we think that our needs are a burden to others and we think that we should just figure out the problem alone because it’s our problem. However, this way of thinking is what has turned our world into the disconnected mess that it is. When people started to turn a blind eye to hatred, poverty, suffering etc…, is when the world turned cold. It is only going to grow colder the more we ignore one another. There is a lie being spread that no one cares but the truth is that there are still people left in this world who do care. They may be few and far between but when you find one it is amazing how much of this dark world that they can light up.
Sometimes we don’t ask for help because of pride. We mistakenly think that if we ask for help that means that we are weak. Let us not forget that even kings ask for counsel; 1 Chronicles 13:1 “and David consulted with the captain of thousands and hundreds and every leader”. To think that we don’t need help or advice from others is a grave mistake. Many people have different perspectives from our own and they can help us see, understand, and consider things that we often wouldn’t with our own perspective. It is important to learn, as a skill, to listen to people we don’t necessarily agree with. To consider things that we wouldn’t normally think of doing on our own. When all else fails, pray. Pray about the advice you are being given and pray about any advice you may find along your journey. Make sure that it aligns with God’s word so that you don’t accept advice that will steer you wrong.
If you cannot currently find a friend, be one. One of the greatest ways to gain victory over struggle is to help someone else who is in need. When we take the focus off ourselves we gain something that the enemy doesn’t want us to have, peace. There will always be something for us to worry about, something to fear, something to lose sleep over. When we focus on our problems they only seem to grow, isn’t that true? However, when we focus on what we have, whether it is a home, a warm bed to sleep in, food on the table, clean water, a cute pet that gives us love, or whatever small joy we have then we will start to see many reasons to be grateful and we will have strength to carry on when things are difficult. The enemy is a destroyer and he seeks to destroy our lives, our relationships, our joy, our peace but God is the author of peace. Hebrews 12:2 “Looking unto Jesus the author and perfector of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
If you are currently in need of a friend/advice and would like to learn more about the things in this post please feel free to reach out by sending an email to Sapphirevine@gmail.com
