“I can do it myself.”
Ever heard a toddler say those words? It’s not unusual hearing those words from one is it? That toddler is trying to exert himself and his independence. It’s not too far off to say we will hear those words from stubborn teens or cranky adults who don’t want assistance or help from anyone. They are basically saying, “I don’t need/want your help. I can do it myself.”
This Lone Ranger mentality is, at times, a good thing. We want people spreading their wings and doing tasks on their own. But at the same time it can be a dangerous attitude. It can lead to isolationism, and even trouble.
In Exodus 17 we find two stories. One is Moses striking the rock to bring forth water. (This is the not the one that got him in trouble with God). The other story is when the Israelites fought the Amalekites. During battle Moses went to the top of the hill overlooking the battlefield. With him were Joshua and Hur. As long as Moses held up his staff the people of Israel would be winning; drop his arm out of fatigue and they began losing. In Moses’ hand was the staff of God. Eventually, Joshua and Hur each held up an arm and the Israeli army prevailed. While Moses could have said, “I can do this” (thankfully he didn’t), he needed Joshua and Hur to hold up his arms.
We all need Joshua’s and Hur’s. The power of the Israelite army was not just because Moses held up his arms and they saw he was there. The staff may have inspired the Jewish army, but more importantly, the staff “spoke” to them of God’s presence.
We may be stubborn and think we need no help. Nothing could be further from the truth. We may even win a skirmish here and there, but in the long run success in battle comes from living and trusting in the presence of God. “It is not by force nor by strength, but my Spirit, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.” (Zech. 4:6 NLT)
We absolutely can’t go it alone, Bill. We all need God’s help in navigating this life successfully. May we never tell Him we can do it by ourselves.
Blessings!
I’m with you on that Martha. I know I can’t.
Asking for help for me, is not easy but its not because I think I can do it myself, its because I cannot do it myself and I need help to do it. Projects around the house or such, I need help and I hate to ask for it. I am blessed with my oldest brother (Gary) who helps his baby sister. I have good friends who will help me out. One of my favorite verses is John 15:5 because I know I can do absolutely nothing without God.
Friends are good. So are good big brothers. I think I’d like to meet this big brother some day and tell him he’s done a good job of loving his baby sister. 🙂 And yes, John 15:5 fits right in.
The first words our oldest son said were Dada and Mama, followed by “I do it.”
Now THAT’S funny. And typical. Thanks for the chuckle Glynn