Mom, There’s a Reason the Devil Doesn’t Want You to Ask For Help

I love talking to other moms on a personal level. Specifically, I enjoy tuning in to what other mothers are experiencing in the 21st century and post-pandemic world. And the consensus for many mothers of small and school-age children is this: no one can do this parenting thing alone. Still, some may be hesitant to reach out for the support they so desperately need. I’m not the Christian who is on the warpath of pointing fingers at Satan all day and every day. But I will definitely state the following: Mom, there’s a reason the devil doesn’t want you to ask for help.

Consider This Biblical Mom In Need (2 Kings 4: 1 – 2)

One day the widow of a member of the group of prophets came to Elisha and cried out, “My husband who served you is dead, and you know how he feared the Lord. But now a creditor has come, threatening to take my two sons as slaves.”

“What can I do to help you?” Elisha asked. “Tell me, what do you have in the house?”

“Nothing at all, except a flask of olive oil,” she replied. – 2 Kings 4: 1 – 2

Too Much to Handle

The weight of this mother’s loss (2 Kings 4: 1 -2) is certainly a heavy one to carry alone. She loses her husband and family stability and now she faces the possibility of losing her children. How many nights had this mother paced the floors with worry? How many days had she cried over the crisis she was experiencing?

But this mom had something going for her: she could reach out to someone in her village. God had not abandoned her as He often uses people to address the needs of those who are suffering and hurting.  Snorble (2022) references the importance of no one child being raised alone. And this mom recognizes a need in her family and asks Elisha for the help that she so desperately requires in the moment.

What the Devil Means For Harm

Can you imagine if shame, embarrassment, ego, or pride had gotten in the way of this mother asking Elisha for help? Would it have been worth it to “hide out” and risk losing her sons to God knows who? The devil has been rearing his ugly head in families since the Book of Genesis and he is certainly giving his best shot in 2 Kings 4. But family separation and further grief is not this mother’s portion because help from her God-given village is readily received.

And Elisha said, “Borrow as many empty jars as you can from your friends and neighbors. Then go into your house with your sons and shut the door behind you. Pour olive oil from your flask into the jars, setting each one aside when it is filled.”

So she did as she was told. Her sons kept bringing jars to her, and she filled one after another. Soon every container was full to the brim!

“Bring me another jar,” she said to one of her sons.

“There aren’t any more!” he told her. And then the olive oil stopped flowing.

When she told the man of God what had happened, he said to her, “Now sell the olive oil and pay your debts, and you and your sons can live on what is left over.” – 2 Kings 4: 3 -7

Mom, There’s a Reason the Devil Doesn’t Want You (Specifically) to Ask For Help

Isolation might be tempting, but it doesn’t have to be your reality as a mom. Choosing an appropriate village is key for the health of your family as you navigate parenting in our current world. This village may include concerned teachers/mentors, extended family, church members, sports coaches, or the support of a social service organization.

The devil would love for you to bask in shame, prolonged stress, embarrassment, or denial concerning your particular needs. He would love for you to miss out on the endless possibilities of seeing your family thrive amidst the support of a caring village.

But there is hope. Ponder carefully your potential choices. Begin to get proactive by giving different support systems a try. Communicate with clarity your family’s needs. Embrace the process as you are prayerful and observant about what is working and what isn’t. And remember that the benefits of connection to others far outweighs bearing the weight of rearing your children alone.