Helen moved behind Gene and began massaging his shoulders. “You haven’t left your computer for hours.”
“I’m so behind on my sermon for Sunday. Having two funerals this week threw off my schedule. I really need to do hospital visits this afternoon, but with the wedding tomorrow, I’m not sure when I’ll ever finish this sermon.”
“You’re trying to do too much.”
“I’m the only pastor. There’s no one else to do these things.”
Helen’s voice was gentle. “Are you greater than Moses?”
Gene swung his chair around to face her. “What do you mean?”
“Remember when Moses was overwhelmed with taking care of all the requests from the Israelites? His father-in-law told him he was taking on too much. If even Moses couldn’t handle everything, maybe you shouldn’t try to do everything yourself.” Helen held out her hand. “Come to the kitchen. I made a pot of soup. We’re going to have lunch and then head to the hospital together.”
“Together?”
“Trust me.”
Gene and Helen arrived at the hospital and Gene pulled out his list of visits. I need to visit six people. Even if I only spend twenty minutes with each of them, that’s two hours.”
“Who’s first on your list?”
“Betty Clivers.”
“Here’s the plan. We’ll visit her together. After five minutes, you’ll leave and go to the next visit. I’ll finish up with Betty, and meet you at the next visit.”
“Don’t you think Betty will be upset if I only stay five minutes?”
“Trust me.”
After a few minutes of exchanging pleasantries with Betty, Gene prayed with her. While Helen continued chatting with her, he left the room. Fifteen minutes later, the nurse came to check on Betty, and Helen left as well. She met Gene as he finished up with Harold Roster, and they repeated the process with the next visit. By the time they’d seen all the parishioners, only an hour had passed.
Back in the car, Gene shook his head. “By going together, we saw everyone in half the time. Everyone got about twenty minutes of visiting, but now I have an extra hour to work on my sermon. You are such a blessing to me.”
“You’re doing a wonderful job of ministry. I see how God is able to use you. But you must remember, you can’t do it all. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.”
Helen’s voice was soft, but her words were powerful. “God never said He wouldn’t give you more than you could handle. The opposite may even be true. Sometimes God allows more than you can handle so you need to turn to Him. His yoke is easy and his burden is light. If you’re stressed and overwhelmed, you may be taking on more than He’s asking you to. What God really says is He won’t give you more than He can handle. God created us to need Him and to need others. Take advantage of those He’s put into your life to help you.”
Gene reached out and stroked Helen’s cheek. “Thirty five years. Thirty five years I’ve been blessed to have you by my side and you’re still surprising me. I’m a blessed man, indeed.”
Exodus 18: 14-23
When his father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he said, “What is this you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge, while all these people stand around you from morning till evening?”
Moses answered him, “Because the people come to me to seek God’s will. Whenever they have a dispute, it is brought to me, and I decide between the parties and inform them of God’s decrees and laws.”
Moses’ father-in-law replied, “What you are doing is not good. You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone. Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their disputes to him. Teach them the decrees and laws, and show them the way to live and the duties they are to perform. But select capable men from all the people–men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain–and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you. If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied.”
Lord God, thank You for never giving us something that we can’t handle with Your help. Thank You that Your yoke is easy and Your burden is light. Help us to remember when we are overwhelmed to reach out to You and to others for help. We may be surprised what that help looks like, but we should never be surprised by Your faithfulness. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Beautiful story. Last year my husband was going through a battle with cancer and his treatments. I was overwhelmed until I asked family and friends for prayers. I not only got prayers but a lot of people helping me with everything from getting groceries to picking up my mail and giving me gas money since I was driving my husband daily for treatments and then spending time with him at the hospital or rehab. I praise God for answering our prayers and he is currently cancer free. He has some other medical issues now but with God’s help and the help of my prayer warriors, we are blessed.
What a wonderful blessing to hear your husband is now cancer free! I’m so glad God filled your life with people who were able to help you through the trial.
Love this story! Thank you!
I’m glad to hear it!
I look forward to your emails, not so much for free books but for your encouraging short story each week. Thank you!
Thank you so much. I’m glad to hear my stories encourage you!
I love to read your stories.
Thank you for letting me know. 🙂
A helpmate indeed!
That’s right!
Karen
Thank you for this wonderful short story message this week. I enjoyed it and yes with God’s help and the help of others in my own life the burden has been light. God is so amazing as he always seems to know just what and who I have always needed. I am so blessed for God being with me through every step. I know I could not make it without him. May we all lean on God’s presence and pray 🙏 to him to guide us.
I am so glad your son is home for Spring break and I pray you enjoy your memories with him and your family. Thank you for the picture of the deers and the snow in your yard. I thank God for all the creation he has created to share with us. I love hearing the birds chirping each morning it reminds me of them singing a song of thankfulness to God. Then my heart lifts up my thankfulness to God. Thank you for teaching me something new and helping my faith be renewed each week. I pray you have a blessed week.
I don’t know why I’m always amazed at God’s goodness, but He keeps on showing it! I’m glad to hear you’re leaning on Him.
Loved your story! As a pastor I can certainly relate. It is always good to be reminded that we are not alone, and it is okay to ask for or to accept help.
When my husband had cancer, God sent others to help and support us – many we never would have expected. Thanks for the reminder -especially to those of us who enjoy helping – to give others that same joy of giving and being a blessing.
I’m glad He sent you people when you needed them, especially since as a pastor, you are always helping others!
I really enjoyed your short story! It reminded me of what I’ve thought for quite some time. That is that God Does give us more than we can handle! Which then makes us look to Him for help! Enjoyed your deer picture too. We have deer that run along the back of our townhouse and then with all the birds, squirrels and even some turkeys we have fun watching them. And hearing the birds reminds me of creation and how it is all praising Jesus!
You’re right – it’s a blessing when we turn to God in times of trouble rather than turning away from Him. It’s amazing how much comfort and peace He can provide when we let Him!