Sunday while I was driving home from church, my car’s water broke. Well, the water pump at least. We have to buy a new water pump and timing belt before we can drive it again. Fortunately, my dad can do the repairs, so we only have to pay for parts; unfortunately, those parts are going to cost us at least $150. This couldn’t have come at a worse time for Jessa and myself financially. Thankfully for us, we have some great friends who have gone out of their way to help us get around to our various jobs. (Our faithful readers will remember that I now have to work two jobs, often being scheduled at both on the same day)

This may come as a shock to some of these (very helpful) friends, but I have to get it off my chest. As the person who is usually doing the giving, helping and serving, I find it very hard to be on the other side of the equation. I love helping people, but it’s very difficult for me to accept help from others. I loathe being in the position I am currently in. It’s weird that one of the ways I show love is by helping and giving, but it makes my skin crawl when I think that I am inconveniencing other people. Besides maybe my wife, but we’re “one flesh” so that doesn’t count. :P Anyways, I say all that because I think God really wants me to learn how to not just accept other people’s kindness, but to enjoy it. It seems to me that there’s a big difference between the two. As I have been praying and dealing with the topic for the past couple of days, God’s answer has been simply a quote from James (the book, not my best friend):

But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” James 4:6 NIV

What keeps me from accepting help? One word: pride. The sneaky thing about this kind of pride is that it disguises itself with the thought “I just don’t want to inconvenience anyone”. Maybe you’ve dealt with that kind of pride, I’m sure everyone has at some point or another, but I’d rather have God’s grace than his opposition, so with God’s help I’m going to try and stop being so prideful.