As I wrote the previous blog, I heard some of you saying to me, “But when I ask for help I don’t receive it.” I can totally relate. Here are a few ideas to keep you moving forward:

1. We are doing stuff that isn’t ours so we feel overwhelmed. We are trying to do too much for too many. We do for others what they can and should be doing for themselves. Ask yourself, “Whose responsibility is this?” Who is responsible to pick up your child’s dirty clothes? Who is responsible for your husband to get to work on time? Who is responsible to fill the volunteer needs at church? I’ll give you a clue—you are not the answer to these questions. When we do what is ours, we may not need so much help.

Often what’s on our “must-happen to-do list” is our idea, not God’s. Talk to God. What are His priorities for you? What can only you do? (Donna Otto’s idea.) A few ideas to get you started:

• Only you can parent your children.
• Be your husband’s wife.
• Care for your home and run your household.
• Fulfill the ministry God put on your heart.
• If you’re a student, only you can do your schoolwork and earn your degree.

This doesn’t mean you take on all responsibilities associated with each of these roles. It does show where your best energy and attention should go.

If there’s no one but you to (fill in the blank), but it’s stressing you and stealing your joy, question if it’s from God. If there’s no one else to do it, maybe God doesn’t intend on it to be done. Maybe there’s someone else to do it, but as long as you’re in charge they don’t feel the push to step up. Get out of God’s way and let others hear His call to serve.

2. We become discouraged when we ask and don’t get help. My oldest daughter is a senior in college. She is in the process of applying to grad school. The problem is she doesn’t know what she doesn’t know. She asks her professors for guidance and help but they aren’t that interested and offer no help. She needs a professor or someone else knowledgeable in the field to answer her questions and advise her. What do you do when you have knocked on all the doors with no answers? Find new doors. Look for help in places you usually overlook. In Katie’s case she might need to seek help from professors from other colleges. In the meantime she continues to do what she knows to do.

3.We need to take the next step. Don’t look at the whole situation and allow it to overwhelm you. Just do the next thing you know to do and don’t worry about the big picture. That’s what Jesus taught us in Matthew 6:34, “Don’t worry about tomorrow. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Yes, we need direction, but rarely does God plant a billboard in our backyard declaring His five-year plan for us. More often He lays a breadcrumb trail for us to follow as we learn to trust Him. I am learning this as I work on my middle daughter’s wedding. Planning such a large event is out of my range of talents and abilities. I am taking it a step at a time. Last night I emailed my sister for help on the flowers. Today she called and said yes. I am relieved!

Bottomline: I hear you. I recently put out a call for help and to date have received none. I can do this task alone, but thought it would be more fun with someone else. So I’ll go it alone—no, not alone—with God as my company, power, and encourager.

• Sometimes we take on too much.
• Sometimes we need to ask for help and we’ll get it.
• And, sometimes God just wants us to lean harder on Him.

Brenda Garrison is an author and speaker who empowers women with the confidence to live their calling. Brenda is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science Degree in Ministry Leadership with a Concentration in Women’s Ministry at Moody Bible Institute. She and her husband, Gene, are the parents of three young adult daughters and live near Metamora, IL.