My toddler grew extremely frustrated while we were grocery shopping a couple of weeks ago. About halfway through our trip she grew tired of walking, so I lifted her into the seat portion of the cart and she proceeded to buckle the safety belt.
As she was doing this, I realized that the snap-fit buckle on the belt was damaged. Though it would still latch, there was more distance between the prongs than is normal. If I squeezed them firmly I could get them to slip into the frame, but my daughter didn’t have the strength or dexterity to do this. I offered to help her, but she replied, “No, thanks. I do it.”
Her frustration built and built as she repeatedly tried and failed to get the buckle to latch. I patiently explained to her that she would be able to push the pieces together if she would just let me help her pinch the prongs, but she didn’t want help. She wanted to do it by herself. She eventually dissolved into tears because she couldn’t get the buckle latched.
As I attempted to help her, the world around me faded and I quickly realized that the Lord was highlighting to me an important reality. Just like my daughter, I often try to overcome challenges by myself. The Lord, constantly present, offers His help. Instead of accepting it, my response is the same as my daughter’s: “No, thanks. I do it.” Like her, I often end up frustrated and in tears because I’ve failed.
Do you ever do this? Do you ignore the Lord’s helping hands and try to tackle your problems on your own? I hadn’t really thought about it that much until this incident at the grocery store. Now I’m realizing that I do it often.
The Lord is our helper.
“The Lord is with me; he is my helper. I look in triumph on my enemies.” Psalm 118:7
“Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me.” Psalm 54:4
Just like I had the knowledge to understand how to latch the buckle, He has the knowledge to address the challenges we face.
“‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the Lord. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.’” Isaiah 55:8-9
Just like I had the strength needed to push the prongs together, He has the strength we need in order to persevere, remain faithful, and overcome challenges.
“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9
Just like I offered help over and over again, He is always offering His help. All we have to do is humble ourselves and accept His help.
Are you trying to overcome any challenges by yourself? Will you join me today in meditating on these Scriptures and accepting the Lord’s help?
Shared at the following:
Grace and Truth, Summer Sizzle Blog Hop, Tuesday Talk, Word Filled Wednesday, and The Art of Home-Making.
Good post! We sure do that to the Lord also… and so many times we have to learn the “hard way”. sigh. I am so thankful for His love and mercy.
Yes, I’m also grateful for His love and mercy!
Oh, goodness — I do have a toddler mentality at times! Thanks for calling us out on this!
Hi Michele,
Now that it is on my mind, I see myself struggling with this more and more. I’m so grateful that the Lord is patient with us.
Your analogy of your child struggling to do something independently was perfect. So often we try and do things in our own strength when all we need to do is ask for his grace which he’ll always give. Thank you.
Hi Penny,
It’s exactly what we do, isn’t it?
Needed this reminder today. Thank you for pointing us back to Christ and our need for Him. I know for myself especially days I feel more tempted I try to fight through myself and fail miserably.
I fail miserably, too, Lindsey. I’m so glad this post has placed your focus back on Christ.
What a great analogy, Shannon. I kept thinking as I read your words, “Yep, I’m guilty.” I’m sure there are countless times when the Lord would like to help and I say, “No thanks, I’ll do it myself.” Wow! Humbling and something I will definitely think about going forward. Thanks so much!
Yes, very humbling, Deb. We all need to think about it and be willing to receive the Lord’s help!
I’m visiting from Word-filled Wednesday. What great analogy. I think we’re all guilty of trying to do things ourselves sometimes. That frustration should be a signal to us that we need our Father’s help.
That’s a great thing to keep in mind, Barbara. Our “frustration should be a signal to us that we need our Father’s help.”