Letter From My Future Self - Don’t Be Afraid To Ask For Help

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Teaching Notes

Don't Be Afraid to Ask for Help: Learning from Life's Experiences

Life has a way of teaching us lessons we never expected to learn. If you could write a letter to your younger self, what wisdom would you share? What hard-won truths would you pass along? This question opens up a powerful reality: God has been speaking to us through every season of our lives, and one of the most important lessons many of us need to learn is simply this - don't be afraid to ask for help.

How Does God Speak Through Our Life Experiences?

While God primarily speaks through His Word and prayer, He also communicates through the everyday experiences of our lives. The highs and lows, wins and losses, joys and sorrows all become part of His teaching curriculum if we have ears to hear.

Frederick Buechner wisely said, "If you'll listen to your life, you'll hear the voice of God." This requires us to pause, reflect, and look for God's presence woven throughout our experiences. Like adjusting old rabbit ear antennas to get a clear TV signal, we must learn to tune our hearts to what God is saying through our circumstances.

God Is Still Working in Your Life

Isaiah 46 reminds us that God promises to be with us throughout our entire lifetime: "I will be your God throughout your lifetime, from when you are born to when you are old, until your hair is white with age. I made you. I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you."

Philippians 1:6 adds this encouragement: "I'm sure of this very thing, that the one who began a good work in you will bring it to completion." God isn't finished with you yet. Some of the lessons He wants to teach us take a lifetime to learn, and some of His greatest works in our lives require years to come to completion.

Why Is Asking for Help So Difficult?

Two major obstacles prevent us from seeking the help we need: pride and shame. Understanding these root issues is crucial for breaking free from the cycle of struggling alone.

The Problem of Pride

Pride is an attitude that says "I don't need help." It's the illusion of self-sufficiency that keeps us believing we can handle life without God or others. Pride shows up when we:

1. Hide our pain because we don't want to appear weak

2. Fake being fine when we're clearly struggling

3. Rely on performance instead of grace

4. Pretend we're in control when we're not

Men especially struggle with this because our cultural heroes are often portrayed as completely self-sufficient. But the reality is, we're not Superman - we're human beings who need community and support.

The Burden of Shame

Shame whispers that because of what we've done or what's been done to us, we're unworthy of love, belonging, or help. Unlike guilt, which says "I did something bad," shame says "I am bad" and "I'm broken beyond repair."

But Romans 8:1 declares: "Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." When Jesus died on the cross, He silenced the voice of the accuser over our lives. Our failures can become our instructors, not our identity.

What Does the Bible Say About Asking for Help?

James 5:16 provides clear guidance: "Therefore confess your sins to one another and pray for one another that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working."

Confession isn't just about admitting wrongs - it's about bringing hidden struggles into the light where they lose their power over us. God designed confession between believers to:

1. Break the stronghold of shame and secrecy

2. Draw people closer together

3. Build healthy unity within the church

4. Provide support during difficult seasons

How Can We Learn to Ask for Help?

Asking for help isn't a sign of weakness - it's one of the strongest and most courageous things you can do. Here are practical steps to overcome the barriers:

Recognize That Experience Is Your Teacher

Some lessons can only be learned by living through them. You can't understand forgiveness until you've been deeply hurt. You can't learn patience until you've been tested. God uses our experiences, including our failures, to teach us and grow us.

Find Trusted People to Share With

Set up a coffee with a trusted friend this week. Join a small group where authentic community can develop. Connect with a pastor or counselor who can provide professional guidance. The key is bringing your struggles into the light with people who will respond with grace.

Remember God's Grace

When shame tries to convince you that you're beyond help, remember that Jesus has already dealt with your failures on the cross. Colossians 2:13-15 reminds us that God has forgiven all our sins and disarmed the powers that would accuse us.

Life Application

This week, identify one area where you've been struggling alone and take a concrete step toward asking for help. Whether it's scheduling a counseling appointment, reaching out to a trusted friend, or joining a support group, don't let pride or shame keep you isolated any longer.

Consider these questions as you reflect on this message:

1. What lessons has God been teaching you through your life experiences that you could share with a younger version of yourself?

2. In what areas of your life are you currently trying to be "Superman" instead of acknowledging your need for help?

3. Who is one trusted person you could reach out to this week to share a struggle you've been carrying alone?

4. How might your willingness to be vulnerable and ask for help actually encourage others who are struggling with similar issues?

Remember, God has been with you through every season of your life, and He's not finished working in you yet. Don't let pride or shame rob you of the freedom and healing that comes through authentic community and the courage to ask for help.

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Setlist

WFC Lenexa + WFC Anywhere

I Believe - Phil Wickam
Promise Keeper - Hope Darst
We Crown You - Jeremy Riddle
Death Was Arrested - Seth Condrey

WFC Speedway

Take You At Your Word - Cody Carnes
Cornerstone - Hillsong Worship
Goodness Of God - Jenn Johnson
Living Hope - Phil Wickam

Be sure to save our Spotify Worship Playlist, updated weekly with the upcoming Sunday’s set!