Eyebrows knit together, her pudgy four year old hands struggled to use the scissors. Brushing away the long blonde hair that fell over her eyes, she studied the hand tracing she had just finished. She just couldn’t get the scissors to cut it correctly.
Finally, throwing her hands in the air and exhaling loudly, she said:
“I could use a little help here!”
Oh, how I felt her pain! There are some evenings when it seems like everything is piling up: dinner to cook, laundry to fold, making lunch for tomorrow and writing. I plod along trying to get everything done. All I want to do is finish, so I can sit and have a little time to relax. Finally, my frustration bubbles over, and I loudly ask my husband “Could you help me please?”
His response?
“Honey, all you had to do was ask.”
We’ve all been there, haven’t we? Overwhelmed by our situations, drowning in the muck and mire of life. Maybe it isn’t just our day to day circumstances. Perhaps we need help loving the unlovable. We need more energy to pour into others. We’re just limping along, struggling, frustrated, trying to do ministry in our own strength.
We could all use a little help.
Just ask. That’s what Jesus did.
“I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever” John 14:16 (NASB)
Jesus wanted His disciples to know He was not leaving them to flounder around and struggle on their own. He wants us to know that very same thing. Jesus knew there would be times that we would stagger under the weight of our circumstances. He asked His Father to give us a helper. As His followers, we have the Holy Spirit in us (1 Corinthians 3:16).
I don’t know about you, but it isn’t just my day-to-day circumstances that bog me down. There are some days (weeks?) that my prayer time is as dry as the desert sands, and the scriptures I read just seem to float on the surface of my brain, never soaking in.
How about you? How are you doing spiritually? Are you struggling with your prayers? Are you understanding the scriptures? Could you use a little help?
“So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.” Luke 11:13 (NLT)
Just ask! Jesus did, so can we. Ask God for a fresh filling of His Holy Spirit. Seek to be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18).
You know, we have the Holy Spirit available to us the second we ask Jesus to be Savior of our lives. So why do we need to ask to be filled?
Because we’re human. And sometimes our Spiritual batteries run low. We need the power of the Holy Spirit to be recharged. So we ask God to refill us – again and again, as many times as it takes. It’s a prayer He will gladly answer. We must continually be filled with the Holy Spirit.
When we’re filled, and walking in the power of the Holy Spirit, He will strengthen us. He will comfort us, and teach us. And He will help us.
And I think we could all use a little help here, amen?
Until next week,
Joining these lovely writers. Be sure to visit their pages, you’ll be encouraged!
Suzie Eller, Live Free Thursday
Kelly at Purposeful Faith
Holly at Testimony Tuesday
Crystal at Intentionally Pursuing the Heart of God
Winter at Words with Winter
Susan at Dance with Jesus
The wisdom of four-year-olds!
Yes, I guess I could use a little help, too, so I need to say the words, just as your post has urged me to do. Thanks for this scriptural call to prayer and dependency on God.
Hi Michele, I just saw your comment in my spam folder! I don’t know how it got there! Yes ma’am, we can learn so much from those precious little ones! Thanks so much for visiting!
A message I need to hear again and again, Ellen. Thank you.
As we all do! Thank you sweet friend!
Oh my goodness, Ellen, so relatable! I read this book by Anne Lamott called Help Thanks Wow, and she had a similar message. I love all these reminders to invite God in, because He is just waiting to help us carry our heavy load!
Jenni, I will have to check into that book! And so thankful that He does indeed help us carry our burdens!
Amen, Ellen. There are times I’m weighed down by all I do and forget to ask for a little help. Of course, it would help if I sought God first before filling my to-do. But ever so slowly I’m learning. Thank you, Ellen, for sharing your heart at #IntentionalTuesday on Intentionally Pursuing. : )
Crystal, so glad I got to meet you at She Speaks! Looking forward to linking with you each week!
Amen! Oh I have been there so many times and pridefully battled on with the household tasks only to crack and ask my sweet hubby for help…and not using the sweet voice I might have before I let pride rule my attitude. What a perfect correlation to asking for help from our Father who is just craving to help us in everything…small or big. I need to humble myself and ask…and not let pride get in the way! #IntentionalTuesday
So glad you stopped by Sarah! Yes, so very thankful we have a giving Father who is waiting to help us!
It is so easy to forget our source of help that is only a sweet prayer away. Thanks for reminding us of that truth. 🙂
Oh, yes, Mary – only a sweet prayer away! Beautiful words! Thanks so much for stopping by today!
Oh the weariness of striving. I lean a bit toward perfectionism so I can wait a little too long to ask sometimes. I’m getting better – I think 🙂
A beautifully written reminder to – just ask…
That John, he’s a keeper.
Thank you my friend! Hard to imagine that you lean toward perfectionism 😉
Ellen, this is such a beautiful message and reminder! I am so bad about asking for help. I think we try to do it all as Moms and wives, but ultimately we do need this help especially from the Holy Spirit. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Kelly, I’m so glad you visited today! Yes, I think as women, we try to do it all, and even think we can at times! May we always remember we have a Helper available to us! Thank you!