When Helping Does Not Seem To Help

Most of us would agree our world is in need of some serious help. Trials, tribulations, and suffering all seem to be on the rise. It can quickly become overwhelming when we try to incorporate all the pain we see and feel into our prayer life. At times, it can almost seem hopeless. Many, who set out with good intentions, can ultimately feel like what is even the point of trying to help. Those frustrations grow when the help we do offer to those in need seems to fall on deaf ears.

All of us have people in our lives that we feel led to extend a helping hand. It is the heart of Jesus to want to help those in need. Was that not at the center of His ministry here on earth? God sent Him into a lost and dying world to help those in need of a loving Savior. With that, would it not then be a natural for us to to want to do the same for others? There can be great joy and fulfillment when we know that we were able to help others. But it can also be a source of frustration when the person(s) we are trying to help chooses not to accept or recognize our efforts.

Lately, part of my prayer life has been centered around the frustration that can be felt when someone asks for help then, continues to make the same or similar decisions which led them and continues to lead them into challenging situations. Or, and perhaps just as frustrating, when the person you tried to help becomes upset with you because your efforts did not result in exactly what they wanted. In other words, they were focused more on the result than then the thoughtful act.

The flesh side of us wants to lash out and say, "It is hopeless, why even try?" Or, when someone we are trying to help seems ungrateful, we want to respond with "See if I ever help you again!" Although these feelings are natural, I encourage you to revisit your original motivation for acting in the first place. In the Book of Colossians (3:17), we read Paul's word that speaks to our efforts through a biblical perspective: And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. Notice we are not to help people simply for the recognition or appreciation. Even though both make us feel good and can encourage us, neither should be our motivation for doing so.

Just remember, the next time you extend a helping hand you are sharing Jesus with someone who is in need and even when they can't see it, He does...

Pastor Aaron