Sometimes we can insist that we do everything ourselves. We don’t ask for help, even when that leaves us feeling overworked, overwhelmed, and over-tired. But why? We’re often afraid that others won’t do the job as well as we do. Maybe we’re perfectionists who want to get everything done perfectly. But if we never let other people try, how will they learn how to do something? We can also be afraid that other people will outshine us. But the Bible says, ‘Honour one another above yourselves’ (Romans 12:10 NIVUK). We also mistakenly think that God expects us to personally do it all. Moses’ father-in-law told him: ‘Listen now to me and I will give you some advice…You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their disputes to him…But select capable men from all the people…and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. Let them serve as judges for the people at all times, but let them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you. If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied’ (Exodus 18:19-23 NIV). This was great, godly advice. We have to lighten our loads by sharing the work out. So when we’re feeling that the job’s too big for us, that we’re struggling and overwhelmed with it all, we need to take it as a sign that God is telling us, ‘Don’t try it alone!’ But we need to delegate wisely. We must find the right person for the task, and trust them to do it well.

What Now?

Feeling overwhelmed with something at work, church, or in your personal life? Ask God to show you who to ask for help.