Why is it so hard for us as mothers to accept help? Why do we believe the lie that accepting help somehow makes us a failure? Sister, let me tell you right now, just because you accept, or ask for help, does not mean you are failing, it means you are growing. It means you are in the thick of something big and challenging and that my friend is where your spiritual muscles grow. There are a few moments in scripture I want you to look at with me and remember next time you need to ask for, or accept, help from others.
In Exodus 17, Israel is fighting Amalek, Moses is standing on a hill with the staff of God in his hand, stretched above his head. Picture this: “Whenever Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed, and whenever he lowered his hand, Amalek prevailed” (Exodus 17:11 ESV). Anyone who has ever tried to hold anything over their head for any amount of time knows your arms get tired. We see the weakness in verse 12. “But Moses’ hands grew weary, so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it, while Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side. So, his hands were steady until the going down of the sun” (Exodus 17:12 ESV). Moses needed the support of Aaron and Hur to get the job done that day. Amalek was defeated by Joshua and Israel because Moses accepted help and fulfilled the will of God. Imagine if he had said, “I can do it on my own, I’m too embarrassed to have you help me” then oops, he drops his hands and Israel loses the war.
Paul, arguably one of the most effective preachers to come out of scripture (next to Jesus of course), had many helpers on his many missionary journeys. He had entire churches supporting him, like the church at Philippi that he loved, “because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now” (Philippians 1:5 ESV). He also had a married couple named Priscilla and Aquila who were tentmakers like Paul (Acts 18:3). They put themselves in harm’s way to help Paul. Paul asks to church to greet his “fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks but all the churches of the gentiles give thanks as well” (Romans 16:3-4 ESV). So, even Paul, accepted help, help that put the helpers in danger.
Nehemiah was a leader, who knew he had to help rebuild the walls of Jerusalem after hearing of the ruin it was in. He wanted nothing more than to fulfil the will of God so he fasted and prayed continuously, “As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven” (Nehemiah 1:4 ESV). He knew God wanted him to rebuild the wall; however, he did not do it alone. He delegated with intentionality. He rallied the people and said to them, “You see the trouble we are in, how Jerusalem lies in ruins with its gates burned. Come let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer suffer derision” (Nehemiah 2:17 ESV). Everyone who worked on the wall faced serious opposition and persecution from others, but God was in control. “When our enemies heard that it was known to us and that God had frustrated their plan, we all returned to the wall, each to his work (Nehemiah 4:15 ESV).
All of these people accepted help because it helped advance the kingdom of God. Is that not our mission? To spread the gospel and advance the kingdom? How do we do that as mothers? We live a life like Christ. And that is not always easy. But the good news is, it’s not all about you. As soon as you start thinking it’s all up to you, you are buying into the lie that your life revolves around you. It doesn’t, it should revolve around Christ. And that my friend should give you so much peace. It’s ok to accept help because it takes the entire body of Christ to do the work of God.
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