Daily Devotional for August 7, 2018
Accepting Help
Alma was sitting at her desk doing math homework when her little sister walked in. “I want to write numbers too,” said four-year-old Naomi.
Smiling, Alma wrote the numbers from one to ten on a piece of paper. Then she took Naomi’s hand and helped her begin to write. “One…two…”
Naomi pulled her hand away. “I can do it!”
“Okay,” said Alma, going back to her homework. She had just finished her last problem when Naomi began to cry. “What’s wrong?” Alma asked. Naomi shoved her paper away. Her numbers were jumbled on the paper, many of them unrecognizable. “Let me help you,” Alma said, bending down to take Naomi’s hand again.
“No!” Naomi pulled away, grabbing the paper. “I want to do it myself.”
“Okay,” said Alma, “but I’m finished with my work, and I’m going to get something to drink. I’ll be back in a little while.”
Alma poured herself a glass of water and went to the family room, where her mother was sorting clothes. “I tried to help Naomi write her numbers, Mom, but she wouldn’t let me. She’d rather cry because she can’t do it instead of letting me help her.”
Mom smiled. “Admitting we need help with something isn’t always easy.” She handed Alma some towels to fold. “Sometimes we’re a lot like Naomi. Her numbers didn’t turn out right when she didn’t let you guide her, and our decisions often don’t turn out right when we don’t let Jesus guide us.”
“How does He do that?” asked Alma.
“Through His Word and through the prompting of the Holy Spirit in our hearts and minds, and even through people He brings into our lives,” Mom replied. “We often think we need to do everything on our own, but that’s impossible. Jesus is the one who leads us and helps us grow. That’s why He wants us to bring all our problems and struggles to Him in prayer and trust Him to guide us and help us do what’s right in every situation.”
“I’m glad Jesus is always there to help us,” Alma said as she finished folding the towels. “Speaking of help, I’ll go see if Naomi has changed her mind about trying to write numbers on her own.” – Karen E. Cogan
How about you?
Do you depend on Jesus as you go about your daily life? Or do you think you can do everything by yourself? Problems at home, difficulties at school, struggles with sin—Jesus wants you to bring all those things to Him in prayer instead of trying to tackle them on your own. Trust Him to guide you and help you do His will in every situation.
Thank you for reading this Keys for Kids devotional! Did you enjoy the story? Has Keys for Kids been an encouragement to you and your family? If so, would you please consider supporting Keys For Kids Ministries in our effort to continue to provide these daily devotionals to children around the world?