ASK... and it will be given to you.

Two weeks ago, Stephen Byerly- one of the directors at Wesley- sat down with the interns for the 2012-2013 school year to chat with us about raising support.  What is support, you ask?  Well, as interns at Wesley, we are not paid.  We invite people in our communities; friends, family, mentors, friends of friends, and sometimes acquaintances to partner with us both financially and prayerfully for a year, two years, three years, and for some who go on to be directors- many more years after that.  Support can be one of the scariest parts about being a Wesley intern.  It can also be one of the things that blesses interns the most.  As I've been drafting my support letters and brainstorming folks to ask to join my support team, I've also been pondering the act of asking.

As children, we're taught to ask for things we want or need.  A child's initial instinct is to whine, cry, or desperately point to something until their message is properly conveyed to the adult they wish to satisfy their desire.  I can remember as a child being told often to "use my words."  As a babysitter and generally "older" person now, I find myself asking children to "use their words."  Words are important and powerful.  They indicate our wants and our needs, they provide us the ability to connect with others and to create community.  So, why is it that there are some things that are hard to ask for?  

Sometimes it's hard to ask for emotional support.  When I need a hug or a word of encouragement, I occasionally find myself reasoning my way out of asking a friend.  Why?  My friends love me, and want to support me!  If I use my words, my needs become known and can be addressed.  Sometimes its hard to ask for help.  When I don't fully understand a task I'm given, why do I shy away from asking for clarification?  My professors, mentors, and co-workers are very wise and their purpose is to impart knowledge.  If I use my words, my misunderstandings can be redirected and guided properly to achieve success.  More than sometimes, it's hard to ask for forgiveness.  Words  (and actions) can be powerful in both directions- positive and negative- and I am prone to hurting people because I am human (as, I'm sure, we all are prone to be).  If I use my words, I can rectify my mistakes and humble myself to repair hurt feelings.  These are all good things that happen when I ask!  

While listening to Stephen give his presentation on raising support, he addressed the challenges of asking for money.  It is the hardest thing to ask of other people.  I can't pinpoint exactly why that is, but my assumption is that money is representative of all the ways that our world is saturated and consumed with the importance of status.  No one wants to admit that they are in financial need, and no one wants to add to financial burden.  I think we fear exposing our financial status to others, being turned down or feeling indebted to others.  But I think this is backwards.  I think it should be our joy to ask our friends, family, mentors, and even mere acquaintances for support! There are so many ways that we offer blessings to one another- and having the ability to offer financial support- no matter how great, is just another way to bless.  By asking, I'm inviting people to join me, partner with me, and be a part of a very important community that builds me up and provides for me.   Good things happen to those who ask.  Jesus says that we are to ask because those who ask, receive (Matthew 7:7).   I think that it could easily be added that those who ask, should expect to be greatly blessed by what they receive, and by those from whom they receive.

All that to say:  I'm kind of excited about raising support.  It's something different- a new way to trust the Lord to provide.  But I believe that I will see great love poured out in this next year as I continue to learn how to ask for hard things, and I can't wait to tell you all about it!