June 6 – Asking For Help Isn’t Weakness, It’s Strength
2:157 – Asking For Help Isn’t Weakness, It’s Strength

#faithbites #faithjourney strength

As I’ve mentioned before, sometimes coming up with content for #faithbites is a challenge, other times, it comes easily. Today is one of the latter ones.

Three separate events all tied together on the subject of what it means to be strong when things aren’t ok. First, on Known Legacy, they we’re discussing being open and honest with your kids when you are not ok. That when you hide how you really feel, the kids think they have to hide it as well to appear strong. Second, during work, a friend asked how I was doing and I wasn’t doing ok. Some of the kidney/prostate issues bothering me. I had thought I had told her about it but I didn’t. She had no idea the pain and stress I was caring. Lastly, I found out an old friend, was struggling with how to be strong in front of her child when her body wasn’t cooperating.

These three events reminded me that the greatest strength is to admit when you are in pain or hurt or need help. Pretending to be strong will work for a short time, but it has major costs. It hurts your mental state, it may hurt your physical state as you do things you can’t do, and it sets a false example for those around you off what strength means.

The Lord is our strength and refuge. We need to rely on His strength to show our true selves to others. This isn’t easy, but the rewards are worth it.

Scripture
  • He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.Isaiah 40:29
  • But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.2 Corinthians 12:9-10
Reflection

The biggest part of our verses today is admitting our weakness. I will boast more gladly about my weakness, so that Christ’s power rests on me. We are not made to be perfect or to put on a front. Those around us see how we act. When we try to be strong when weak, they have a false sense that that is how you are supposed to act.

My father never let on when he wasn’t feeling good or needed help. I thought that how I needed to behave. The hardest lesson for me is when my eldest first asked me if I was ok after something bad happened and I was honest and said no. She was there for me and realized that as strong as I am, I am weak and need help.

The Lord is our strength and refuge. We need to toss aside what the world thinks is strength and look to the Lord.

Charge

Today’s charge is a hard one. It’s admitting that you are weak and need help. It’s turning over those things you’ve held on your chest to the Lord and to loved ones. Maybe it’s telling your child, in an age appropriate way, that you can’t do something you used to because you are sick. Maybe it’s confiding in your spouse or friend a secret that’s been bothering you. Whatever it is, it takes real strength to admit you aren’t perfect and need help. You will set an example that they will mimic long after you are gone.

Prayer

Lord, thank you for your strength. There are many of us, including myself, going through hardships and heartache. We are trying to be strong by not sharing our problems with you or our loved ones. Help us to heal physically, mentally, and spiritually. Give us the strength to know that sharing our problems doesn’t make us weak but rather makes us strong through you. Remind us Lord, that you are our strength, our refuge, and our rock. In Jesus name, Amen.

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