Is it time to ask for help?

At 20 years old, Jenny felt like giving up. She’d pulled a strong B average during her first year of college, but last summer, her life started to come apart.

Thinking back, she knew accepting the invitation to that party was not her best choice. Yet her longing for acceptance and friendship had overruled her good sense. Why hadn’t she refused that beer as she’d always done before? She hadn’t realized her strong bent toward alcohol until that day. Now there was no denying she had a problem.

Does this fictitious story ring any bells for you?

Or perhaps you go to bed heavy with regret for a different reason. Maybe you’re sorry you yelled at your child – again – for just being a kid.

Or after a heartfelt commitment to change, you still hear the echoes from when you nagged your husband or berated your wife – again.

What about that resolution you made to lose 40 pounds… or to quit smoking – again? Your bathroom scales show an additional five pounds or you’re smoking more packs of cigarettes than ever.

Maybe you’re in danger of losing your job or flunking that course, or your house is a total mess because you can’t seem to motivate yourself to get up off the couch.

Has your situation finally convinced you that you can’t overcome it alone? Perhaps a sinful habit has finally convinced you how much you need the support of others to make today different from yesterday.

It’s okay to ask for help. In fact, it could be vital for you to do so – even if it means setting aside your pride. We’re here to serve each other. One day in the future, God may use you to help someone else; but for now, allow us to be there for you.

We as a community – especially the church – thrive when we help one another. Even more amazing, we glorify God, as 1 Peter 4:11b (ESV) says: “Whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.”

These weeks before Easter (many refer to this season as Lent) is a great time to ask God to enable us to clean up our act. If necessary, let’s ask God for wisdom and courage to seek help.

Isn’t it comforting to know that whatever our struggle, we don’t have to go through it alone?

But we do have to reach out.

So… who will you call to get that support today?

Sheryl H. Boldt, a Franklin County resident, is author of the blog, www.TodayCanBeDifferent.net. Connect with her at [email protected]

This article originally appeared on The Star: Is it time to ask for help?