Ask for Help

This moment was entirely underwhelming. They were sitting at a rickety, old table, for crying out loud.

Saul popped a piece of cheese into his mouth, and washed it down with a swig of water. He motioned for Barnabas to have some food. Saul was waiting patiently, but Barnabas knew he wanted to know why he was here. He had to get around to the main event soon.

"So...." His voice trailed off.

"So, why are you here?" Saul asked.

"I'm here for you," Barnabas blurted out.

Saul's bushy eyebrows rose to the top of his head, but he didn't say anything. He just waited for Barnabas to explain.

"The church in Antioch is really growing, but not just with Jews. Gentiles are accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior. It's starting to happen all over. You may have even heard about Peter's encounter with them. Anyways, after spending a couple days at Antioch, I realized that I could not shoulder that ministry alone. They need more. So, I prayed, asking God for help." Barnabas paused and looked Saul in the eye. "He told me to ask you for help."

"Me?"

"Yes."

Saul pointed to his chest. "Don't you know-"

"Yes," Barnabas cut him off. "I do know. It doesn't matter anymore. You've been redeemed by Christ. Now, will you come with me, and help me teach them?"

Based on Acts 11:25-26

"So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians." Acts 11:25-26

What I like about these verses is that Barnabas went to look for Saul. He didn't try to do this on his own. He found another man of God to help him build up the church in Antioch. He cared about those baby Christians enough to know that he couldn't shoulder this ministry by himself.

"Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." Galatians 6:2

We don't have to be superheroes. We don't have to use our own might - if you can call stubborn pride that - to do something. Even in ministry. Even in your ministry. God didn't create us to try and do things alone. We need God's help. We need the support of our family. We need the help of our friends. So often we try to fight that, but a real leader, asks for help.

Don't be afraid or ashamed to ask for help. It doesn't make you weak. It actually makes you stronger. Start now by asking for God's help in whatever it is that you're struggling to figure out on your own.

"God, I need help!"

V. Joy Palmer