When we begin to drown, we can allow ourselves to be pulled under or we can cry out for help. Not that we necessarily choose to go all the way under, but sometimes not calling for help, thinking we can pull ourselves out on our own, produces the same result. It’s hard to ask for help or even to know what help to ask for.
As I was caught in the middle of multiple storms crashing on top of each other – infertility and a job search, among others – I felt I was the only one who could solve these problems. I was the one who needed to get a resume together, do the right networking and start interviewing. I was the one who needed to search out solutions for our infertility issues – find the right doctors, decide the next protocol we’d try, agree when was the right next time to try. I was the one who needed to solve it all.
A friend suggested an alternative as I shared this struggle over coffee one morning. A different approach that seemed a little crazy to me, unlikely to produce the results I was pushing so hard to achieve. He suggested I try handing all this over to God and let Him carry the burdens a while. Call out for help.
Will you allow yourself to drown under the weight of the world or will you cry out to God for help?
I believed in God, knew He was real, but thought of Him only as a distant, supreme being; not someone who is intimately involved in our lives. I prayed, but never really expected a response. So, I couldn’t imagine how this would help. What could God do about my problems, after all?
Despite my reservations, I was desperate and had no other better ideas, so I decided to give this a try. I went home that morning and began to pray for God to start carrying the burden for me. I even tried to visualize handing over the worries which felt so heavy on my shoulders.
It took several weeks of praying this before I began to notice the change. Several weeks for me to start believing in the words I was saying in that prayer and to open my heart to the possibility that God might actually answer. I began the feel the weight on my shoulders get lighter. I began to feel my chest unwind a bit and I could breathe easier. Then I noticed I wasn’t as worried and anxious about all the issues, all the things I couldn’t fix in my life. I started to feel at peace with life, even with all its problems, and I began to feel hopeful about the future.
What had changed? My life circumstances certainly hadn’t changed. I was still traveling across the country for work every week. I still wasn’t pregnant. Nothing had really changed, yet I felt different. I felt calm and at peace.
What changed was I asked God for help and He answered. He was right there beside me the whole time, just waiting for me to ask.
But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. (Matthew 14:30-31a NIV)
What will you choose? Go it alone in your struggles and drown in the stress and worry? Or, cry out for help and give God a chance?
This “drowning” experience was the turning point in my faith journey. It was also the turning point in this struggle. Even though it would still be months before any change in my situation, my heart began to change. I began to face this challenge with hope and peace, knowing the end results were in God’s hands – no matter how it all turned out.
Question: Where do you struggle most? Letting go of the control, believing God can help, remembering to ask for help or something else?
I love this song “Shoulders” from For King and Country about laying all our burdens on the shoulders of Jesus. Maybe it will encourage you, too!
This post is part of the “A Better Change” series. For more information on this series and to find related posts, click here: A Better Change Series – Overview
Linda@Creekside says
‘Help me, Jesus.’ We cry out in a doubtful faith.
And He does. Oh how He does!
Thank you for this, Kathryn. What a grace-gift.
Kathryn says
Isn’t it wonderful how he’s always right there beside us – we only have to ask!
Lisa notes... says
I never cease to amaze myself at how often I can forget to ask God for help! Such craziness. I love this: “What changed was I asked God for help and He answered. He was right there beside me the whole time, just waiting for me to ask.” I know he already knows my situation and needs, but he still wants me to ask. May I ask and ask and ask. 🙂 Thanks for this reminder today, Kathryn.
Listening to the song now….I love for King and Country.
Kathryn says
It’s like when my kids ask for something I know I’ll help them with, but I sit patiently and wait until they ask with their nice words. God’s already there and waiting patiently for us to ask – and He doesn’t even require we use our nice words, so long as we open the dialog. Hope you liked the song – one of my new favorites!
Ronja says
What a great post! I sometimes struggle with believing that the Lord would answer — which really makes no sense because He has answered so many prayers time and time again. Thank you for sharing this, for reminding me of hope for this week!
Kathryn says
Isn’t it crazy how we have to keep re-learning those lessons – and I do all the time! Even after He comes through for us, we still struggle to believe – or to remember to ask.
blessingcounterdeb says
Kathryn, Wonderful reminder. There is peace in giving Him my burdens and admitting that I fixing is beyond my ability. It took me way too long, and occasionally I still need a refresher course. This one was perfect. Thank you!
Kathryn says
Thanks! yes, those refresher courses! Wish I didn’t still need them, but maybe each one brings me a little closer to Him.
Holly Barrett says
It’s so simple isn’t it? All we have to do is ask. He is always there. He will never let us fall. Thanks for the reminder that it’s not difficult! And thanks for linking up to Testimony Tuesday.
Kathryn says
So simple, yet sometimes so hard to take that step and ask.
betsydecruz says
Hi Kathryn. It’s so easy for me to feel “overly responsible” too. As if it all falls on me to solve everything, take care of everything. This is a great testimony about really seeking to grow in letting God take care of things for us.
Kathryn says
I like to be in control and ‘fix’ whatever I see is wrong – so it’s definitely been a learning process to let go of that control! The awesome thing is His solutions are so much better than mine could ever be!
justamom8225 says
This is such an insightful post and a wonderful reminder that sometimes we do need to let go and let God. I have difficulty, at times, letting go and trusting that God has a plan for everything.
Kathryn says
I have to keep reminding myself ‘God has this’ – although it’s easier in some parts of my life than others to trust in that.
Alecia Simersky says
A friend pointed out the other day that I sounded a bit like Elijah. God has done so many amazing things in my life and answered very particular prayers and then once life started to dip into the valley I was all of the sudden very doubtful of God’s provision. I can be SO forgetful and to me it’s shameful. I have no right to doubt God or what He can and will do. Great post! Love the song too!
(I saw in your profile you are from Frisco, Tx, we JUST moved from there!! Great area!)
Kathryn says
Too bad you just moved! Would have been fun to meet a neighboring writer 🙂
joanneviola says
Wonderful post, Kathryn! I am so grateful He changes us when we cry out for help. May we learn to live in a state of constant dependence on Him. So glad to be have been here today!
Kathryn says
I’m learning the amazing-ness of submitting to God-driven changes, admitting I’m not enough to ‘fix’ my own life and allowing Him instead to transform me. It’s a hard process, but excited to see what He will do! Glad you stopped by today!
passagethroughgrace says
So good! It sounds so simple but the choice as you say is ours. Let go of everything and let God or hold on and try to figure it out ourselves. It is always in the letting go that I am free and confident in my choices.
Kathryn says
Yes, we can choose to try to swim on our own (and likely end up just treading water or sinking) or ask for help and make progress.
ambercadenas says
I tend to struggle not so much with believing God can help, but that he will. I know from past and present experience how many hard things remain hard in life… and yet I underestimate the transforming power of what can always, always be changed: me. Thank you for this reminder today.
Kathryn says
I struggle believing He will help in my little life – that maybe He has better things to do than intervene for me. Yet, even when He doesn’t change our circumstances, He can change us – and sometimes that’s just enough to make whatever we’re facing a little better.
Wanda W. says
Ask…three simple letters but often it can be one of the hardest tasks for us to do, whether that’s asking God or others for help. How did we come to believe that we had all the answers and could do it all ourselves I don’t know. But oh how it weighs me down when I fail to ask and attempt to go at all alone.
Barbara Ann Gareis says
We need to remember that God is just waiting for us to reach out to Him. He doesn’t expect us to do anything on our own (nor could we). We need to “let go and let God!” Thanks for this great post, Kathryn!