I was raised with the adage, don’t be a burden on others. I was told not to share my troubles, my difficulties or ask for help. While this did encourage some self sufficiency, it was also isolating. I wrestled with asking for help. How hard does it have to be, for it to be okay to ask for help?

My mom would often say that she didn’t want to bother us with her needs. In our minds she was never a burden. We saw it as a gift to help her when she needed it. I’ll admit sometimes it is hard to help someone in need but more often than not it is rewarding. More often than not, I appreciate someone reaching out and asking for support.

Yet, I still struggle to ask for help. There is that quiet voice in my head saying, “don’t be a burden.” The new landscape of job hunting is all about networking. The experts tell me to reach out to anyone with a connection and ask for help in getting my resume in front of hiring managers. This has been a painful step for me.

I recently reached out to a couple of former colleagues to share my situation and ask to reconnect. Those messages were so difficult to send. My inner voice was telling me that they had no interest in hearing from me or helping me. I couldn’t have been more wrong. Both reached back willing to reconnect and encourage me in the hunt. They were living out this scripture.

^1-3 Live creatively, friends. If someone falls into sin, forgivingly restore him, saving your critical comments for yourself. You might be needing forgiveness before the day’s out. Stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed. Share their burdens, and so complete Christ’s law. If you think you are too good for that, you are badly deceived. (Galatians 6:1-3 MSG).

I need to be willing to be a burden. These networking meetings were so encouraging to my soul. It was about so much more than a job. Just as Jesus reaches out to all of us in need, it was living out our call to be a supportive community to those around us. It was about connection, hope and encouragement. Networking is not a significant ask. There wasn’t money involved or a large time commitment. Yet, the sentiment is the same, and I welcome the opportunity to do this for others. Lifting someone’s burden is rewarding for all parties.

How are you at asking for help? Do you worry about being a burden? Share your story here and breathe life and bring hope to others.