Help. Again.

I think, quite a while ago. I wrote on this. This morning, I was reminded of this. The importance of help, and how to receive it.

Acts 18
9One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: "Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. 10For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city."

When I read this, it spoke to me rather instantaneously. As my Dad in Heaven always know what's going on in my heart. That's the personal part. Now, the other part. Things that got me pondering more.

The first four words that God told Paul - Do NOT be afraid. Implication? Paul is afraid. The "great and fearless" Paul is afraid! The Paul with great convictions and confidence in speaking the truth is afraid! That got to me. Sometimes, I forget that anyone can be afraid.

The second part - God gave Paul the assurance that He is with him, and even further assurance that nothing will happen to him in this city. The verse after this showed that Paul accepted this word from God, and went forth to fearlessly proclaim the gospel.

Accepting help. This can be tricky. It takes a few parts:

1. Knowing you need help

Sometimes, you know you need help. Sometimes, you don't. There are times when I am in a difficult situation, and I keep piling things on my plate, adding on to the workload. I need help. But do I see it? If I do, why do I still add things on?

2. Someone/something to give you help

Where does my help come from? It can be from anyone actually. However, sometimes, it takes one to realise that that is "help". I need to recognise help when it comes, too.

3. Humility to accept help

Now, this is the difficult part. To accept help means to acknowledge and confirm a lot of things. It would mean that I am weak, I need the help. It would mean that I need to lay down my pride, to accept the help. It would mean that I am not as good as I want others to think I am.

At the end of it though, if I don't be humble, who is to suffer? I guess, no one else, but me. Help is a two-way process. The relation between the helper and the receiver. God gives helpers. But, do we look out for them, and acknowledge them?

I think, at times, I need helpers to identify helpers! Oh dear, I have opened another can of worms.