She Reached for Help

"I do it all by myself!" the little girl huffs as she tries for the umpteenth time to button her coat.
Do you ever feel like that? So frustrated that you don't have the strength, energy or know-how to do something, but too full of pride to ask for help? I know I do. A lot!

My problem is I need to get over myself and ask for help. But I don't want to bother other busy ladies (or be rejected by them). So I pretend to be superwoman and do it all myself, looking beautiful and all put together while I'm at it. When in reality, on the inside I pout and complain that no one will help me and I'm so overwhelmed.

We all reach points of desperation in our lives. We've spent all our money, given all our energy, tried every trick in the book - there's no way out, no hope left - except Jesus.

In Matthew 9 and Luke 8, there's a story of a woman who was at that point - she had been bleeding for 12 years with no healing, until she reached for help:

 And behold, a woman who had suffered from a discharge of blood for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment,  for she said to herself, “If I only touch his garment, I will be made well.” Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And instantly the woman was made well.    Matthew 9:20-22 (ESV)


And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and though she had spent all her living on physicians, she could not be healed by anyone. She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, and immediately her discharge of blood ceased. And Jesus said, “Who was it that touched me?” When all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the crowds surround you and are pressing in on you!” But Jesus said, “Someone touched me, for I perceive that power has gone out from me.” And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed. And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.”      Luke 8:43-48 (ESV)

The bleeding woman had reached a point of desperation, she had no other hope for healing, so she reached out just to touch the edge of Jesus' robe, trusting that was enough for her healing. Her simple, consuming faith in the power of Jesus made her well.

I need a desperate and consuming faith in the power of Jesus - to change my life, set me free from the sin of pride, for humility to ask for help from others. God has put people in my life to help with physical needs, emotional encouragement, and spiritual maturity.  I need to accept, welcome, ask for help and stop presuming I have it all figured out and can do it all by myself.