Pride can deceive us and lead us to trust in ourselves, to resist help, or to doubt the dependability of others. While often celebrated, self-reliance is the pride of insisting I need no one. Why do we deny what is so obvious—that at times we are indeed desperate for help? Perhaps we’ve too often found the help of others unreliable or insufficient. People let us down. Maybe we’ve normally received rejection or ridicule for inconveniencing others when we ask for their assistance. People turn us away.
God won’t let us down, and he won’t turn us away. Notice his character Ja 1:5-6: “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting….”
First, God is a capable friend. “For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; he stores up sound wisdom for the upright” (Pr 2:6-7). While other well-meaning friends may be may be unable to help us, God has limitless treasures of wisdom to share with his people, and he turns no one away, giving freely to any who ask him. Thus, second, he is a generous friend. He doesn’t berate us for needing his assistance again and again. He doesn’t see us as taking advantage of His open-handed love. He delights to help those who delight in his words (De 30:9-10).
We ought to trust this God who can and does give abundantly to his people. He is wise in his love, and his gifts often outmatch our prayers as he perfects us through our trials (Ja 1:2-4). If only we’d pray more faithfully. Sadly, we doubt him at times, second-guessing his goodness and wondering if he’s holding out on us. It’s the age old lie (Gen 3:1). God loves to prove we can depend on him, yet ironically, in our independence, we prove ourselves undependable by rejecting His help (Ja 1:6-8). The one who lives independent of God can not be depended on. Ask God for help, and ask knowing you can trust him. He is a faithful friend.
—Justin Dobbs