I Am Not the Hero

And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen. Philippians 4:19-20 (NIV 1984)

A dear friend of mine has breast cancer. Discovered this past spring, it came as quite a shock. She lives alone and has very few people she can call on for help. I have always been one of those people, but this spring … I was not. It just about killed me.

At the time, I was going through my own struggles. Finishing up my term as national director of Moms in Prayer while caregiving for my father-in-law didn’t leave enough hours in the day to even do both of those jobs well. Added to that were other family responsibilities and needs … and I was pretty close to exhaustion. I emailed my friend occasionally to ask how she was doing, but lived with a sense of guilt knowing I’d been no help. Some days, Satan had a field day in my mind. I felt so guilty for not being there. I made her no meals. I never called. I drove her to no appointments.

This summer, I had more free time but was reluctant to connect with my friend, knowing I had, in my mind, failed her. Finally, when I wrote and apologized for how little I had done and asked how I could help, she wrote back listing all the ways others had jumped in. Neighbors were bringing meals and hanging out with her. Her boss had been generous with time off. Church friends had come by to pray with her and drive her to appointments. She was actually … fine.

And then it hit me. I don’t have to be the hero. In fact, I’m not supposed to be the hero. God is the one who supplies every need—and He called on other members of His body to reach out to her. This particular crisis didn’t have my name on it. Oh dear. I suddenly realized the enemy had snookered me. I had listened to the one the Bible calls “the accuser” (Revelation 12:10). I had fallen for his lies about my own importance in my friend’s situation.

She didn’t need me. She needed God. The real hero. And God showed up in the hands and feet of His people, chosen by Him to meet her needs. How much time and energy I had wasted inside my brain as I lamented my inability to help! How much better it would have been had I simply laid her needs before the Lord, sought Him for what He would have me do—or not do—and then put my hands and feet to the work God had called me to do.

Paul understood perfectly when he wrote the Philippians, “I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it.” (Philippians 4:10) My friend was not angry with me, but rather was excited to share how God was meeting her needs. As I saw what He was doing, I rejoiced with her—and repented of my self-centered “need” to be her personal hero. God knew my situation this spring, knew I had no opportunity to help, and He asked others. Simple as that.

Forgive me, Lord, for prideful thinking—that I have to be the one to “save” people. Help me to hear Your voice clearly, helping whenever You call me, but not wallowing in false guilt when You have chosen others. Oh, how I need to recognize Your voice, Lord, so I do not live under condemnation from the enemy of my soul. Thank You for meeting my friend’s needs. Thank You that You are more than able to meet all our needs according to Your glorious riches. You, Father, are the hero. Always. I bow before You in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

You are loved,
Sharon

Sweet Selah Ministries

Vision
To encourage a movement away from the belief that “busy is better”
and toward the truth that stillness and knowing God matter most—
and will be reflected in more effective work and service

Mission 
To offer resources and retreats that help women pause (Selah)
and love God more deeply as they know Him more intimately (Sweet)