Steps of Faith

After blogging about my Dad's birthday, I got my weekly email for the Friday night group I attend and play keyboard in the band. There's always a short message from the Worship Leader, and as usual, his timing is perfect. In a few words, it was a request that anyone with a need for prayer to respond to the email so that we could pray ahead of service time. This is not out of the ordinary; we pray every week between practice and service, but once in a while we know there needs to be some extra effort due to the ups and down of everyday life.
At this point I began to debate sending a reply. I needed support for going to see Daddy, and I knew my husband wouldn't be available. The grief is so very heavy...did I dare let the group in on this? Could I trust them to support me and not brush the request under the rug - which in this case would be to say "everything will be fine, just trust God" - but I chose to reply. I explained Daddy's lack of memory of my Mother in the three short years since her death; despite a marriage of over 30 years. I also confessed that I tried with great effort to stick my head in the sand, but I knew that visiting was something that needed to happen for my Dad's happiness, not mine.

I followed up with a phone call requesting an email "blast" to all those in the music/tech team. Not only did my note go to the team, but also the leadership - I wasn't expecting this - the leaders have plenty to do without babysitting the keyboard player - or so I thought. I wrote back the next afternoon to the whole group with a short email saying things went well and the kids went with me.
It was blissfully low-key. I received a few replies-a couple saying they were glad things went smoothly and a couple thanking me for sharing - that threw me off - they were glad I asked for something on short notice? New territory for sure!


Tonight, as we all arrived, several people asked how things went.
It seems surreal, but it happened. Could it be that real people with real concerns receive real support?

Past experience has only said "No" so I'm a bit sceptical.
This week went a step in the right direction. It's okay to ask for help when you are in a situation that's over your head. It's our weakness, God's strength is made known. Then, the next time something similar comes around, find your balance between the wisdom you gained and get some help with the rest. God loves to help us -sometimes working through another one of his "peeps".