I've always considered myself an independent woman. When something needs to be done, I will tackle it and quite possibly hurt myself in completing the task (just ask my Chiropractor). It doesn't matter if it's a home or work project. I want to do it myself.
Unfortunately, I've allowed that same mentality to bleed over into my life as a writer. My titles have been writer, editor, proofreader, designer, publisher…etc. A few ARC (Advance Readers Copy) readers have caught a mistake or two along the way, but that's it.
With my latest work, Keatyn's Journey, I thought I'd caught every mistake possible. I mean, I was confident! Proud, even!
Well, let me tell you something… I didn't.
Y'all. I proofread and edited that book until my eyes almost fell out of my head! But, as I casually read through Keatyn's Journey on my iPad last week, BOOM! I found like five mistakes. And I'm only halfway through.
UGH. Talk about aggravated. I went from mad at myself to angry at my husband for not reading and proofing for me back to mad at myself for not doing what I should've in the first place… hired a proofreader!
I finally realize I can't possibly do everything on my own and catch everything.
Yeah, I said it.
I can't do this alone. I need help.
Do y'all know that's how life is? We need help along the way. Hopefully, you have someone you can rely on for support. That's step one.
Step two is asking for help.
Yep. People aren't mind readers! We have to ask!
God has truly given me some great people I can rely on! Those whom I love and who love me! Psalm 18:24 tells us: "A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother."
Did you catch that? To be a friend or to have friends, we must show ourselves as friendly! Are you a friendly person? Do you go out of your way to help others? To weep with the sorrowful or share in their trials, and if not, why not? God also knew that we would need the church to help us through life and help in our battles against evil.
Remember that we are not alone!
Philippians 4:13: "I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me."
Friends are wanted, needed, and a blessing from God.
God knew we would need them through this pilgrimage that we call life. If you have many friends in this life (or only one or just a few), you are a blessed and fortunate person, but the greatest friend that one could ever have is Jesus the Christ! Why? Because He loves us! (Eph. 2:4-6)
He is the greatest friend because He gave His life for us.
John 15:13: "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."
In John 15:9-11, Jesus said: "I am the door: by me, if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
As I think about the people in my life who I know I can rely on, I have to first and foremost think about my Heavenly Father. He's the One Who put those people in my life in the first place!
God will be here for you. But you have to put your faith in Him.
Philippians Chapter 4
6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
19: But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Psalms 62:8: Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.
God loves you and me. He wants us to ask Him for help! To rely on Him!
It would be miserable to go through life with no friends but even more miserable to go through life without the One Who died for you! Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
Do you rely on God? Are you a Christian? I urge you to study what is required to become a Christian and take the steps God has so lovingly laid out.
1. Hear the Gospel. (Romans 10:17, John 8:32)
2. Believe the Gospel (Hebrews 11:6, John 20:31)
3. Repent of past sins (Luke 13:3, Acts 17:30)
4. Confess faith in Jesus Christ (Romans 10:10, Matthew 10:32)
5. Be Baptized (Galatians 3:27, Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38)
6. Be faithful unto death (Revelation 2:10)
In Christian Love,
Leah Brewer
