Why God Wants You to Ask for Help

Published: April 26, 2020, midnight

b'Sometimes, it\\u2019s hard to share the thoughts and feelings weighing most heavily on our hearts. Maybe we\\u2019re struggling with depression, bullying, a parent\\u2019s divorce, the death or illness of a loved one, or the sins we are most often tempted by. We might feel embarrassed or ashamed that we feel the way we do. We might worry how others might react. We might even feel like we\\u2019re a burden to them when we tell them how we\\u2019re feeling.\\nHowever, God doesn\\u2019t want us to suffer alone! He gave us friends, family, teachers, and our church families to help us\\u2014in good times and in bad. Aaron supported his brother Moses\\u2019 arm when he was too tired to hold his staff up (Exodus 17:10-13). Jonathan protected his friend David from King Saul, who wanted to kill David (1 Samuel 18:1-5; 20:1-42). As Christians, we are meant to support, challenge, and encourage each other no matter what we face\\u2014 imitating the Savior we serve (Matthew 28:20; 1 John 4:19).\\nMaybe at church, you feel like you don\\u2019t belong. \\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153Nobody knows or understands what I\\u2019m going through. I\\u2019d better just stay quiet.\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d But Christians aren\\u2019t a bunch of perfect people; they\\u2019re a bunch of people who are all in different places in their journeys to be more like Christ. Some might be at a high point in their lives, others at a low point, but everyone will face their own unique struggles sooner or later. You don\\u2019t have to be ashamed. In fact, being open about them may encourage someone else to share their burdens too!\\nWe bless others when we let them help us. Purpose and special blessing are found in demonstrating the love of Christ as we \\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153share each other\\u2019s burdens\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d (Galatians 6:2). Please don\\u2019t deny that privilege to those who care about you and want to help you!\\nWhen we are refreshed and encouraged by the body of Christ, we find new strength to give the same gift of encouragement to others. \\u2022 Jessica Kleeberger\\n\\u2022 Do you have any burdens on your heart? If so, list someone you could share them with (a parent or other family member, youth pastor, camp counselor, etc.). \\n\\u2022 How can you help friends who are going through hard times but are reluctant to ask for help?\\nTwo people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (NLT)\\n\\xa0\\nRead Verses:\\nProverbs 27:9; Ecclesiastes 4:9-12; 1 John 4:19'