Drawing Strength from Others

I have been reading and learning so much about God lately that often I find it incredibly difficult to choose one thing that I want to blog about. I could write about everything but nobody would read my posts if they were longer than they already are. I came across this quote earlier today and it spoke very clearly to me ...

"Even Jesus needed to draw strength that comes from those who knew Him the best and accepted Him without great expectations.”
-Dr. Erwin Lutzer and Rebecca Lutzer, Jesus Lover of a Woman’s Soul, pg. 120

Lately, it has been very difficult to ask for help and create a support network since I moved here in August. I am not sure if it is the fact that I moved very far from the majority of people I have ever known. It could be, but I think it is something that runs deeper.

Sometimes it is so often difficult to ask for help, because we do not want to be a burden. I find that sometimes I share some of the issues I deal with and I feel as if I am a huge problem. It’s not even my problems that are the problem anymore. I am the problem.

As humans, however, we are not meant to be alone. We cannot survive alone. Maybe for a few days or even months, but not an entire lifetime. God created all of us so that we can support and walk through this life together.

Isn’t it awesome to think that our Creator, our God, the One who created this universe, even needed support and help in His ministry and during his time here on earth?

Sometimes when you ask for help, you are not the only one who is blessed. More often than not, everyone in the situation is blessed.

I have been without a car for over six years. At first, it was incredibly frustrating having to rely on other people to get to different things all the time and to figure out the bus and train routes to various destinations. It took a ton of humility and strength to call and ask people to drive me. It was awkward to be so dependent on others. However, I was able to form incredibly strong relationships with those who drove me to church or my medical appointments. They are still very close to me to this day.

In our society, we are so often taught that we are individuals and it is weak to ask for help. Even more true for men. We are taught to be 100% self-sufficient and that if you ask for help, it automatically means you are weak. No wonder men do not like to ask for directions.

But asking for help, support and prayers does not make us weak. I think it shows a huge amount of strength and courage.

Even Jesus asked for help. His ministry would not have been what it is without the help of the men and the women who followed Him and ultimately carried His story throughout the world. All of the people who still reach out and carry His message throughout the world play a huge role in His ministry today.

We cannot get through the struggles and our obstacles alone. We are not meant to. When I have isolated myself, my depression and anxiety almost always has gotten worse. The only healthy isolation I believe that we can have as humans is time in the full presence of God, alone. To me, that means spending several hours outside at the lake reading Scripture and books about the Christian faith. No music. Nothing but me and God.

It is often in the times that we reach out for help from others that we realize that we are not alone in our obstacles. That realization in itself can feel like a large part of the weight we carry on our shoulders is being lifted.

One of my favorite poems of all time is Our Deepest Fear by Marianne Williamson. I quoted it last week when I was in the hospital. The entire poem is extremely powerful, but these lines particularly have been going through my head a lot lately.

“As we let our own light shine,

we unconsciously give other people

permission to do the same.

As we are liberated from our own fear,

Our presence automatically liberates others.”

-Marianne Williamson

As we share the deep, dark things that hurt us and give us pain and stress, we undoubtedly help others in the process. In our darkest times, we see the light of God. I have seen that light all throughout my life and that is why I have been so adamant about sharing what God has done in my life. We are called to share the light of God to every part of this earth, just as we are called to be there for each other, in the good, the bad and the incredibly ugly moments in life.

I will leave you with a song that has been on replay for the past month or so…