When Yahweh Tells You…

When Yahweh tells you to get out of the way, He means it.

When Helping Is Not Helping

I admit, I like to help others out. Sometimes I help too much.
You see, I think that I’m helping, but I am doing the work for them.
When it comes to growing in Yahweh, no one can help in that area.
We each need to struggle on our own to grow spiritually.

Some time ago, Yahweh impressed in my heart that I needed to step back and stop being so “helpful.”
Looking in hindsight, I was likely hindering His work by “helping” others.
Finally, I realized what I was doing and I stepped back.
It wasn’t easy. I felt like I was showing that I didn’t care, even though I cared too much.
It’s a needed area of change in my life, for sure. I am growing in this area, too. There is a work that needs to be done in each of our hearts, that only Yahweh can perfect.

Helping Who?

There is nothing wrong in helping, but we also need to examine our hearts and see if we are helping by answering the call, or are we helping because it makes us feel good, needed. That is a question only we can answer ourselves.

For me, I was not listening to Yahweh’s still small voice. The need is great out there and we have to do something about! Therefore, I jumped in to help and it never seemed to be enough. Why? What am I missing in this? Why was Yahweh telling me to stop “helping” others?

A Lesson Taught

Going back a decade ago, I had a dream that Yahweh used to teach me about my weakness of “helping” others. I learned that I was enabling some people to continue on in their ways while Yahweh was calling them to change.

In this dream, I was in a wooden row boat out in a lake at night with no land in sight. A storm raged all around me. The waves were high, the waters rough, and the little boat and I were bouncing all over the place. The rain soaked through to my skin. The lightening and thundering pierced my confidence. I was scared and cold.

I could hear my name called in the distance. I squinted to see where that might be coming from. That’s when I saw Yahushua. (The rain, the dark, and the turbulence didn’t allow me to see details, but I knew it was Him.) He called again and again. When I finally answered, He beckoned me to come. What?! Is He crazy?! He called again.

“No!” I shouted. “You come here!”

The audacity of Him to beckoning me to step out in those turbulent waters! I was in no shape to get out there. He knew I was in danger, why didn’t He just come to the boat?

He didn’t budge. Neither did I.

This repeated three times.

On the fourth time, I shook my head and swung a leg over the boat, thinking this was a totally crazy idea. Why did I have to take the first step? He was watching this the whole time. He knew what was going on. Why wait for me to act? This was ridiculous! As my leg bounced against the boat, I looked at Yahushua and shifted my weight from the boat to the water….

In the next instant, we were both on land, the boat was half on shore, half in the water. The storm was gone and the night sky shone with the stars. I was dry — as though it never happened — and Yahushua was standing next to me.

I couldn’t help myself. I turned to Him and asked, “Why have me go through all that? Why didn’t you just reach out and save me?”

The Answer He Gave

The answer impressed in my dream remained with me when I awoke. The vivid events seemed to be etched permanently into my mind. Even ten years later, I can feel the emotions in that dream and the explanation of why I had to endure that.

I still remember in the dream that we were standing on the shore, the sand under our shoes. I was no longer drenched or shivering from the cold. The star filled sky complemented the warmth and stillness of a perfect night.

Yahushua turned to me and explained that it is through struggling that we grow and change. We look to Him and to Yahweh and they empower our hearts, but they won’t do it for us. We have to make the first choice.

In my heart then (and when I awoke), I understood that we choose Yahweh and Yahushua when we take that step of faith. Standing right there beside us the entire time we are struggling, neither One will move in until we ask. Why? We were created with free choice.

Friendly Reminders

Over the years, Yahushua has had to give me some friendly reminders to let others struggle on their own so that they can make their choices and move forward. When I make the choice to step aside and let Yah do the work, great things happen. Likewise, I also grow much, maturing in discernment, servanthood, and boundaries.

This last month has been one of those friendly reminders. I have to admit, I had not been listening. Oh Father, please forgive me for being stubborn. I ask in Yahushua’s name for the ability to discern when I am helping and when I am enabling, when I am aiding and when I am hindering Your work.

Moving Forward

Learning to step back and not jump into everything will also help with that burnout feeling because in reality, only Yahweh can handle all that. As His servant, I have been given a set of tasks to do. When I venture outside of what He has asked me, I tend to overdo and burn out quite easily.

This week I am moving forward one step at a time. I am pulling back and becoming the silent help (in prayer) instead of the “I’ll be there to solve everything” kind of help. I am growing. I am learning.

I pray that this post is as much of a blessing to you as it was to me.