Don’t Be Too Proud to Ask for Help

Have you ever wanted to prove that you could do something all by yourself, without any assistance from someone else?

I have certainly found myself in that state of stubbornness before, and I’ve often seen my children exhibit that same stubbornness from time to time as well. In some instances, success was achieved, but in other cases, nothing was achieved but frustration.

But when it comes to trying to do life on our own without God’s help, intervention, and guidance, we will never achieve success. Frustration and disappointment are the only outcomes that will occur. Despite how capable we think we are at managing life’s challenges on our own, we need the help of the Master, just as I mentioned my Proverbs 31 devotion today.

We can’t resist temptations, avoid sin, or make perfect choices all the time. We can’t control our emotions, forgive those who hurt us, or pull ourselves out of a pit when we land there. If we try to stand alone – we simply don’t stand a chance.

In Psalm 19:13, David asked God for help when he says “Keep your servant from deliberate sins! Don’t let them control me. Then I will be free of guilt and innocent of great sin.”  If David is a biblical role model, even called a man after God’s own heart, and he has to ask for help, why do we think we can do it on our own?!  David knew he was a sinner, and he was not only eager to seek God’s forgiveness, but eager to make good choices going forward. He knew that in order to succeed, He needed God’s help.

David knew the benefit of asking God for help, and he didn’t let his pride – or his past sin – keep him from doing so.

Maybe today you have multiple situations where you need God’s help. Maybe you’re having trouble with one of your children. Maybe your marriage is struggling. Maybe you are barely making ends meet. Maybe you are facing a troubling health diagnosis.

Regardless of why we may need God’s help, by admitting our need and asking Him for help, we open the door for Him to get to work on our behalf. God wants us to depend on Him, and by putting pride aside, we take a positive step in the direction of holy dependence.

When we refuse to ask for God’s help, we are in essence saying we don’t need Him and we can do it on our own. But oh what a lie that is. And the devil would love for us to keep on believing that lie, so he could watch us stumble and fall time and time again.

When we ask for His help, we are admitting our weaknesses, acknowledging His sovereignty, and surrendering to trust Him.If we humbly admit to God that not only have we messed up and need forgiveness, but that we need His help to keep from stumbling in sin again, we can feel confident that God is holding the reigns of our life.

If you desire for God to begin pouring help into your life, below are a few steps to help you get started on seeking His intervention:

– Spend some time in prayer, confessing to God what He already knows, but releasing your heart from regret, shame or disappointment about past mistakes, or from simply not depending on Him.

– Speak to God with humility, expressing your need for His help in a specific decision or situation, or just in your day to day life.  Consciously put aside any thoughts that you don’t need God’s help, or that you are capable in  your own strength, and ask God to replace your pride and doubts with full confidence in Him, instead of yourself.

– Remember that although we can tell God what resolution we would like to see occur in our problem, we need to surrender to accepting whatever help He feels is best. It’s not our job to give God suggestions, although we can, but instead trust Him to know exactly what to do.

– If you don’t know what kind of help you need or even what help to pray for, yet you know you need God’s supernatural intervention in your life, remember Romans 8:26, “And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.” (NLT)  When we sacrifice our pride and seek God’s help, even if we don’t know what kind of help we need from Him, the Holy Spirit will speak on our behalf and intercede. 

– Ask God for an acute sense of awareness of when He is speaking and guiding, either through a conviction of heart that won’t break loose until you heed to God’s instruction, or in a way that you will know without a shadow of a doubt was Him. 

– Keep a journal of when you feel God is whispering to your spirit and giving you guidance.  Spend time in God’s Word, asking for reassurance of His answers and scriptural support for what you feel you heard. 

Sometimes we see God supernaturally intervening in the situations we have laid at His feet, and at other times, we may only see how He worked in hindsight. In either case, knowing that God is our helper brings great comfort and relief during the wait.

Have you ever put aside pride and prayed for God’s specific help in a situation, and then saw Him answer and help in a unique and amazing way?

 ** The Stress-Less Summer Survival Series kicks off on Monday, July 1st here on my blog, so be on the lookout for how you can get involved and enter to win some fun summer giveaways! 

14 Comments

  1. Diana on Monday, July 1, 2013 at 12:55 am

    How do I enter to win her summer give away worth $60?



    • Sue Beneke on Monday, July 1, 2013 at 12:26 pm

      I try and do spring cleaning and a list of projects. I feel stress trying to get them all done. Sometimes it’s stress trying to make myself make Christmas gifts. I have the ideas, and sometimes not the skills, motivation, or $ to complete tasks.



  2. Paula Howard on Monday, July 1, 2013 at 4:24 am

    Looking for some stress-free encouragement



  3. AB on Monday, July 1, 2013 at 7:55 am

    You are speaking my language. As I read your words, they leaped out to me! I laughed because I have 1 free week for my family, wrote out the calendar of events so I hopefully will not forget where we need to be and when and feel the pressure weighing me down for our carefree summer. Thank you for bringing this blog to much needed moms like me and God’s plan to see me through!



  4. Kari on Monday, July 1, 2013 at 9:38 am

    What stresses me out at this point, is the realization that before this series is over, we’ll be back into the school routine stress!



  5. Jennifer M on Monday, July 1, 2013 at 9:57 am

    This summer has not at all been what I had planned. I wanted to take our camper that we bought last year, set it up and spend enjoyable times with my three children, and even the other two that I babysit, so that financially I can stay home. But selling my husband’s truck, the very day that school dismissed, so that he could get something more economical yet strong enough to pull our camper dampened that. In addition to an accident with our only other vehicle, beyond driveable condition one week later, really put a damper on things! So Traci! I NEED this daily devotion and encouragement. I try to keep my eyes on HIM but feel like I had become more frustrated than I should have. I want to do better, and end our summer much better than it has started. Thank you! And GOD bless you for helping me see the Light!



  6. Jada Smith on Monday, July 1, 2013 at 10:03 am

    For me this year, it’s the pressure to have a great summer with very limited resources and 2 teenagers. It’s really weighing on my heart that I only have a few summers left as a family.



  7. BEVERLY SHOOK on Monday, July 1, 2013 at 10:35 am

    What has stressed me out this summer is a few additional
    activities. I am taking a couple classes to get my real estate
    license to assist my husband in his real estate carrier more.
    So I cant believe it is the first of July and I dont feel like we
    have really started summer mentally. I have a 7 year old boy
    and a 16 year old, 17 year old and 20 year old girls.
    Their interests are very different from one another and when
    make plans it is very hard to get everone on the same page as
    well as same schedule. With their work and interests going in
    all different directions. Not to mention my husbands phone
    ringing 18 hrs out of a day about real estate and property
    questions. I feel like it is almost impossible to really enjoy the
    Summer like it have imagined we would.



  8. Tiffany on Monday, July 1, 2013 at 10:38 am

    The constant mess in the house! 🙁



  9. Vicki McGillivray on Monday, July 1, 2013 at 11:03 am

    My only problem is I usually get a lot of company because I have a small pool. But I have been learning not to stress about the house and the food being perfect. Ad sometimes, I just say u need to bring whatever you want to eat and drink. Thanks for ther chance to win. Blessings.



  10. Kim Volk on Monday, July 1, 2013 at 2:12 pm

    I work at a Head Start and the kids are out all summer but we (employees) only get five weeks off work. Granted that is something most people don’t get but what stresses me out is the time we go back to work trying to find something to do for eight hours. I am the cook so I have a small amount of cleaning and preparation to do before the kids come back whereas the teachers have several trainings and lots of things to organize and put where they want. It is mentally draining on me and it stresses me out greatly!



  11. Martha on Tuesday, July 2, 2013 at 3:00 am

    I have some serious issues going on in our family that I really need alot of prayer for…my youngest son is in jail and having many problems being bipolar which I am myself so I completely understand what he is going through..my oldest son has had 3 brain tumor surgeries and been medically honorably retired from the Army at 30 years old with a wife and 2 children..I have no parents as they have both passed due to cancer and not my stepmom has nodules in her lungs…I have crohn’s disease, IBS, colitis, Gerd, migraines, herniated and bulging discs in my neck, and arthritis of the spine and am still trying to work part time…I have a tremendous amount of faith that God will take care of all of this in His time and am asking that His Will be done…please pray for my whole family..thank you



  12. C.E.H on Tuesday, July 2, 2013 at 5:14 am

    Matthew 6 v33. Matthew 11 vs28-30 “Come unto Me, all of you who labor and heavy laden, and I will give you rest . v29 “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, For I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest unto your souls. V30 “for my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Love you all !! First Peter 5 says to
    “cast all of your cares on Him because He cares for you.” I encourage us to take these scriptures and meditate on the promises of Jesus.



  13. Linda W on Monday, July 15, 2013 at 12:08 pm

    What have stressed me out is dealing with my our health. I was told I had diabetes and I’ve been in denial but know I need to face it. I have prayed and took the first step this week to contact a health coach to help me along this journey. Please keep me in your prayers.



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Tracie Miles is a bestselling author and the Director of COMPEL Training with Proverbs 31 Ministries.  She helps women grow stronger in their faith, pursue the life of purpose God designed them for and live a life of peace, joy and happiness despite their circumstances.

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