“Even Jesus Asked for Help”

This devotion started something like this…
Heather: “Even Jesus asked for help, Kim.” 
Kim: “He didn’t say LEAVE either, Heather.”
Just being transparent here… Kim struggles with physically asking for help and wants to do everything herself.  Heather struggles with allowing others to support her during weak emotional breakdowns and often says “LEAVE”. 
Neither of these are healthy choices. We are diving in today to see what scripture says about responding when “stuff happens”.

​There are days and moments that leave us feeling depleted, tired, and devastated. There are the small things that continue to hit wave after wave until you are depleted.  Vacuum cleaners break. Tires go flat. Gas runs out. Pools collapse. Deer get hit. Flu. Kids disobey and have meltdowns. Houses get dirty. These seemingly little things can add up leaving us asking “Really God?” 

More devastating things come that hit like a tsunami and leave you completely paralyzed and in shock. Financial problems overwhelm. Work-life seems unsettled. Relationships feel unsteady. Cancer or even death impact those we love. Sometimes more than one major life event happens at the same time. It can be hard to bounce back from those moments into a healthier place both physically, emotionally, and spiritually without derailing. 

Psalm 34:18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Matt 11:28-30 Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Jesus is not just speaking casually here. He is calling us to come to him, to have a relationship, and in that we can find rest and peace.  The root word used for rest in this verse means to cause or permit one to cease from any movement or labor in order to recover and collect strength.  The key to this verse is not just to stop and to rest, but to yoke up! Even the strongest oxen, when paired with another in a yoke can pull even greater weight and go farther distance.

True rest comes when we allow our burdens to be shared with the One who is gentle and can bring perfect rest for our souls. True rest is found within a relationship with Jesus Christ which also includes the comforting nature of the Holy Spirit.

There is another important lesson to be learned in scripture about finding rest when we are weary. We need other people.

Exodus 17:11-12 As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset.

Moses was exhausted.  He could no longer bear the weight alone.  He could have pushed others away when they offered assistance.  He could have said, “LEAVE”. How often do we look at others who are trying to help us and ask “Why are you here? Leave me alone! I can do this job by myself.”  We also may simply pack away our emotions, choose not to be transparent, and hide from others the fact that help is needed. Do you ever want to just get away, isolate, sleep, curl up on the couch alone with a blanket and hot choccy?  

John 4:6-8 Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon. When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.)

Why is it so difficult to ask for help and allow others to minister to us?

Even Jesus asked for help. He did not have to, of course. He was the Son of God who created all things, after all. But there are several accounts in scripture where he blessed others by giving them that opportunity to serve. We read in John chapter 4 that Jesus was tired from a long journey. He had already sent the disciples into town to buy food. After a long journey and ministering to so many along the way, they needed rest and were depleted. He sat down, engaged the Samaritan woman at the well, and asked her for a drink of water since he had no cup. During her time with Jesus, she received a greater blessing than she expected. She came to know salvation and unconditional love. Her testimony reached far beyond just that day at the well. We read that many other Samaritan lives were affected.

Jesus may have not actually needed this help on this day as He fully knew what the outcome would be. Yet again, he is seen pouring out His love on others. The example we can see in this is that Jesus used this time to engage, let others step into a relationship with him, and be blessed. He was a Jew and she was a Samaritan. At this moment he could have been guarded and not even began the conversation. He was a perfect example of how we, when neck deep in the middle of our own needs, feeling depleted, tired, thirsty, can reach out for help and not only be blessed but allow others to share in that blessing.

While tempting, isolation is never the answer.  Even when we are called into quiet time, it is with God. We also need people. We are created to crave relationships with God and others.

Take time to reflect. In what ways have I allowed myself to become depleted? Tired? Overwhelmed? How do I handle myself during these moments? Do I stop to rest and yoke up? Do I allow the Holy Spirit to renew me? Do I rely upon others or do I crawl in a hole? Do I trust in God’s plan to walk me through these moments connected to Him and others toward His plan for my life? 

Dear Heavenly Father,

In moments when tempted to isolate and pause progress I ask that you continue to draw me closer to you and others.  When feeling overwhelmed, help me to come to you to find rest. Increase my willingness to be transparent and reach out to others for support. Thank you Lord for those people that You have so graciously placed in my life. Help me to recognize the helpers you place in my path and trust your plan. Help me to also serve others. Thank you for being gentle, loving me, and making my burdens light.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Authors: Heather Lynch and Kim Carroll