Go It Alone...

This is part 1 of a 2-part blog series written by a new friend of mine. His name is Tim Cole. Over the last ten years Tim has been involved in school work (both in the UK and in the USA with LifeChoices), teaching and speaking, missions, evangelism, prophecy and most of all worship. He has worked for several Churches in the UK, in Maidstone, Kent, where he was the Worship Director's Assistant, and in West Horsley, Surrey where he was Worship Leader. You can find him on the web at www.timcole.org.

 

Go It Alone...

 

"I need your help. I can't do what I am called to do on my own. Some days I get really down, I get really discouraged, I just can't see the point of it all. I feel like I am pushing on the ocean. Some days I feel I can hear God loud and clear, other times its like I'm lost in a fog. I need help."

 

Those kind of admissions go against the grain. In our society we are taught to be strong, to be self reliant and independent. We wrongly believe that to be strong means to never admit a weakness. We buy into a lie that strength means we don't need anyone else - or, if we're a bit more spiritual, we don't need anyone but God. "Me and God, we can take on the world!"

 

Well, although that's true in a sense, it's not what God planned. Right back in the beginning God said "it's not good for man to be alone". God planned us and made us for relationship and for community. We are not meant to be INdependent people, we are meant to be an INTERdependent community. Every metaphor the New Testament uses for the church speak of interconnected and interdependent relationships. The New Testament never compares the church to a government institution, a religious organisation or a business. All of those things existed 2000 years ago but the Bible uses very different illustrations, it speaks of a family, a community and a BODY.

Interdependence is the key - as Paul says in 1 Corinthians, every part of the body is important and they are all needed - and need to be CONNECTED in order for the body to function healthily. We need each other, we were made for God and one another. You might be extremely gifted, able and called - but you still need other people. Let's have a reality check for a moment. God doesn't need you to save the world. He wants you to work with Him to be a part of the story of restoration and redemption, but no matter how gifted you are, how big your church or ministry is… you are just a part of the over all picture. You need other people.

Be honest. Where do you need to ask for help? Doing it now could save you and others a lot of pain.

 

...Be sure to come back tomorrow for part 2 of this blog series

Comments

[Jim F.]

Asking for help was something I struggled with earlier in ministry and at times it still rears it ugly head. Thanks for the encouraging words and looking forward to part two.

[Scott Couchenour]

Thanks for commenting, Jim. I'm amazed at how simpler life can be when we work off the strengths of others. Getting to the point of asking for help, it seems, is the key.

[Tim Cole]

Hi Jim - thanks for reading and commenting. You're right - feeling able to ask for help is a continual thing and something which I think can get easier and harder at different times in our lives. Sometimes its easier to ask for help as we get a bit older and don't feel we have as much to prove, other times as we go on and maybe become more "successful" and have a higher profile it can actually get even more difficult. Thanks for being open in what you shared, I think forums like this blog can be really helpful in terms of connecting and being able to share and grow together.

[jasonS]

Such an important message that cannot be overstated. We need each other and we all need help. If we'll look for it before it everything gets too much to handle, then we'll be healthier and others will find their value and fulfillment as well. Great post, Tim. Thanks.

[Tim Cole]

Thanks for the encouragement Jason. Often it's only when people hit rock bottom they ask for help... so much pain and trouble in the Church (and world) could be avoided if people were willing to ask sooner. I've seen too many people I love loose or damage their ministry through pride and failure to realise they couldn't do it alone and that they didn't have all the answers. My sincere prayer as I wrote this was that it might help prevent that happen - even for just one person.