ASKING GOD FOR HELP
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.
Matthew 7:7-8
Asking for Help to Swing
I have a lovely 4-year-old granddaughter named Rae. Rae loves to swing on the tire swing hanging underneath a big pecan tree in my yard. However, Rae can’t really climb up and get herself swinging properly on the tire swing without some help from me. As soon as she gets to my house, rain or shine, she wants to “swing big”. She never fails to ask me for help as soon as she arrives at my house. In fact, on occasion, she will call me on her mom’s phone to come get her so she can swing. She only lives about 12 miles away so… frequently I drop whatever I am doing to go get her and let her swing! Rae has figured out how to ask for help with things she can’t accomplish on her own. Most of us could learn a thing or two about asking for help from the average 4-year-old like Rae!
We Are All Broken People Traveling on Broken Roads
Because we are imperfect people traveling down the broken roads of life, we must learn to ask God for help. We must ask him as often as we need help, which is really every day. Not only do we travel down broken roads, but we do it in broken bodies. The broken bodies are easy to see on some Rangers, but we are all broken in some way. This abundance of imperfection causes problems. We have problems, and all those around us have problems. Broken people on broken roads on a journey filled with problems means we must ask God for help--daily. The solution to navigating the brokenness both in us and around us is simply to go to the only one of us who was perfect in this life and ask him for help: Jesus.
Recognizing Our Need
Asking God for help means first recognizing our need. Our brokenness reveals our limitations of thought, power, supply and ability. God is not limited in thought, supply, power or ability. Pride and insecurity prevent us from recognizing our need. Recognizing our need and expressing our need to God is an act of humility. God helps humble people. Humility is an attribute. A lack of humility inevitably leads to a fall. We are reminded in Proverbs 16:18 that "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall." This verse warns that arrogance will lead to our downfall! This verse serves as a reminder to remain humble and aware of our limitations.
Revealing Our Faith
Asking for God’s help reveals our measure of faith. Assuming God will help us is not faith. It is pride or indifference. Knowing God will help us and then asking him for that help demonstrates true faith. Assumption activates no belief. Asking activates faith in us. It is our faith that God rewards. God never rewards assumption. God always rewards faith.
Persistence: Our Measure of Faith
God is a loving father who delights in providing for his children, just as I delight in swinging Rae on the tire swing! Rae is persistent. She asks, seeks, and knocks often at inconvenient times! But, because she seeks and asks, she usually gets what she wants (yes, I know I am spoiling her to a degree)! Our measure of persistence demonstrates our faith. Faith is asking, seeking, and knocking often over and over again if necessary. For in all the asking, seeking and knocking we get to know better the One who answers and opens the door: Jesus. There is no shame in asking God for help. People who ask God for help are those who receive God’s help.
God Bless!
Rangers Lead the Way!
Dan Knight
d.knight@threerangersfoundation.org