When You’re Afraid to Ask – Day 14 of Handmade

Ask

It’s a Sunday afternoon. I’m going 70 mph on I-65. Traffic is rolling along. I’m listening to Lauren Daigle’s new album, Look Up Child.

Adam had texted us Saturday about the album. He said to check out two of his favorites on it: “Rescue” and “Love Like This.”

I texted him back Sunday morning: I’ll be listening.

“I hear you whisper underneath your breath
I hear your SOS, your SOS
I will send out an army to find you
In the middle of the darkest night
It’s true, I will rescue you”

Then I see red.

Brake lights are coming on in front of me. We all slow down. We’re now going 10 mph.

I can’t see what’s ahead. Waze users tell me there is a wreck near Cullman. But I don’t know which lane will be closing. So I stay in mine.

I spot a red SUV in the lane to my left to gauge my position. I watch his progress. Should I switch to his lane? Is his going faster? Or is he getting behind?

Until there it is. Everyone is merging left. I need to get over. Now. I turn on my blinker.

It’s my ask.

Please.

Someone. I don’t care who.

Just let me in?

Unexpected Asks

We can’t always plan our need for help. While we may occasionally forecast that we’ll need help next Thursday at noon, it doesn’t always work that way.

Sometimes our needs come quickly.

And we may not even know what kind of help would be useful.

So we don’t ask at all.

But just because we don’t know who or what or how the help will arrive, shouldn’t stop us from asking.

Because God always knows.

And he’s waiting, prepared, ready for us to ask.

Unexpected Answers

So ask him anyway. Even if you don’t know how he’ll answer. Even if you’re scared he won’t answer at all.

Ask in faith, in truth, that God will send someone, somehow, to walk alongside you.

Eventually we all get what we need.

It may arrive in an unpredictable way, at the most surprising time, through a least-expected person.

So ask.

Love like This

As I wait my turn to merge into the left lane, edging over slowly, eventually I see a break. Someone is going to let me in.

It is the red SUV. The one I had been watching.

Why him? Why now? I don’t know.

But it feels like a holy moment.

I slip in. I wave my gratitude to him. I whisper a “Thank you” to God.

And Lauren Daigel sings on,

“What have I done to deserve love like this?
I cannot earn what You so freely give
What have I done to deserve love like this?”

Three Questions

Here are the three questions of the day:

(1) What question do you need to ask someone today?

(2) Are you quick or slow to ask for help?

(3) How has God helped you lately when you’ve asked?

* * *

What are your answers? Please share in the comments.

My answers

(1) I’ll ask Jeff, “What do you want for lunch?”

(2) Depends on what it is, but usually I’ll struggle along in my pride before I’ll ask for help.

(3) God keeps giving me energy this year to squeeze in extra visits and things I’m trying to do.

Listen to Lauren Daigle’s “Love Like This”

More here

• First Ask. Don’t Sink in the Lake
  Before you sink in the lake, first ask God for what you want.
• Why Don’t You Ask? And Why You Probably Should
  There are reasons we don’t ask each other more questions. Are they valid reasons?
• Ask One More Question
  I had one more question for this homeless man. What’s your favorite Bible verse? His answer surprised me.

Get the whole Handmade series here

• ← Call or Text? What’s the Best Way to Talk? – Day 13 of Handmade
• When You Get Your Grace – Day 15 of Handmade →