Get yourself some people...it is biblical

Exodus 18:17 and following is one of my favorite.  Here we have Moses who is trying to keep up with everything and everyone in the wilderness.  He's at his wits end trying to glorify God.  Jethro, Moses' father-in-law approaches him and encourages Moses to delegate some of the duties.  Verse 23 reads, "If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain".  Huh.  Pretty smart of Jethro.  What's even smarter is that Moses listens and utilizes the advice!

In the corporate world we might call Jethro's wisdom "networking" or "getting some people", but in our faith community we call it the church.  Now, the church may not show up at your house to help make sure your toddler eats all their breakfast in time to get dressed and make it to church, but they can keep you in prayer.  They can offer you words of encouragement along the way.  May not sound like much, but when you know that someone is waiting to say something positive the mountain is not so bad.  Also, if we take Jethro's advice and apply it to other areas of our lives, maybe getting to worship won't feel like one more thing.  Do you really need to be the only person bringing the class snack?  Can you share the load with another parent?  Do you really need to be the only one who stuffs 200 newsletters or can you share that with a neighbor you'd like to catch-up with over coffee?

Case in point, I just recently had a baby.  My self esteem has been a little low (baby fat and sleep deprivation).  So, I asked for some help.  There were people keeping me in prayer and others who I just requested that for the next few months when they see me to say, "You are skinny and brilliant".  I'm neither, but just hearing someone say it with a smile makes me feel better.  They'd never know I needed these things unless I asked.  In return, I feel better about myself and look forward to the compliment.  Not world peace, but that's okay.

The big bold message of all of this is to work towards realizing that God never calls us to do it all.  There are things we must do.  Jethro didn't tell Moses to just let it go or ditch his responsibilities.  God simply wants us to be our best and sometimes we must share the load so that we aren't under so much strain.  Let your prayer be "God, how can I share the duties to which I am called."