Is It Possible To Be Too Helpful And Available?

This is something MANY people struggle with.  People want to be available and always help a friend in need, but there is a "fine line" that needs to be drawn.  I am praying that this blog really reaches people and makes them see that they need to establish a boundary to where they protect themselves and give the rest to God.  The enemy uses un-godly people, the enemy also uses godly people.  Whenever people are going through a struggle or a trial THAT is the time they show they either have Jesus or they don't.  It is very easy to call your friend up several times a day whenever you are struggling, but did you ever open up your bible?  Do you talk to Jesus MORE than that friend you keep calling?  God needs to be FIRST during good times and in bad times!  The Bible covers EVERY area of life, so we know we can go to HIS Word and that we don't need to run to others for help.  We can turn to godly people to help lift us up, but we cannot RELY on them.  We can only rely on JESUS!!  Did you hear what I just said?  We can ONLY RELY ON JESUS!!
  I am going to address two types of people in this blog.  I am going to first address the person who is going through the struggle then I will address the person helping the person in the struggle.
   IN THE STRUGGLE:  So you are in a struggle/trial right now and this took you by surprise.  You didn't plan for it, and you didn't expect it.  You literally got knocked over and you don't know how to get back up again.  Keep in mind that I am already assuming you have Jesus in your life and that he is your Savior.  So right now the enemy is FULLY attacking you to where he caught you where you have your armor of God off.   First problem, you took your armor of God off.  Why did you take a break to take your Armor of God off?  You know that the devil is seeking someone to devour. ( Be alert and of sober mind.  Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.1 Peter 5:8)  So you are in the "why" stage right now and trying to figure out WHY this is happening to you.  Talk it out with God, he wants a heart to heart with you.  Tell him 100% what you are feeling and what you want to know.  The next step is one of the hardest steps because you cannot go off of your "feelings."  When you are done talking, you need to tell God that you STILL TRUST HIM and that he is STILL GOOD through this trial and you THANK HIM FOR IT.(Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.  And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. James 1:2-4)  (More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.Romans 5:3-5)   (For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:10)
   Next you need to start seeking God and clinging to the cross like Jesus did.  You need to work on healing and getting closer to Jesus.  Spend time in your Bible and make sure that you are getting to church.  Daily you need to confess Gods Word OVER YOUR OWN WORD.  There are going to be bad days to where you don't feel like it, on these days IT IS A MUST!!  The enemy is going to want you to put God aside and start seeking people and their opinions.  Satan wants to use you to disrupt other families and start putting weight on their shoulders with your struggles.  You cannot be a burden to people!!!!!  Jesus is the person to rely on NOT OTHERS!!!

HELPING THE PERSON STRUGGLING-  There is a fine line that needs to be established when you start to see that the person is not taking your godly advice and not seeking God.  If that person is doing all of the things that I mentioned above, then this person knows the boundary line and is not being a burden.  Unfortunately the majority of the people suffering are only looking at themselves so they don't care to see others to find out if they are crossing that boundary line.  They are too busy focusing on themselves.  It is important to keep pointing that person to Jesus and Gods Word.  Give scriptures more than personal advice.  Encourage that person to get involved in groups or to talk to a Pastor.  Pray with that person and pray for that person.  If the person you are helping is STILL crossing over that boundary line to where it is starting to give you anxiety and disrupt your peace and your family time, then you need to cut that person off.  You need to understand that the enemy is working through that person right now and he is trying to disrupt your family.  You can tell the person in a loving way and let them know that you need to focus on God and your family and that you will keep praying for them but at this time it isn't best to keep talking.  You need to protect yourself and your heart you MUST GUARD.

My husband and I have had situations to where this was brand new for us.  We didn't understand that the enemy can use godly people as well.  We have had situations that we have experienced to where it took a toll on ourselves and our family.  We had times when no boundary line was established and we spent more time helping others than spending time with each other and our family.  We have learned through experience when enough is enough.  It is so healthy to establish a boundary and we want to encourage you today, that it is ok to say no.  No matter what keep pointing people back to Jesus and keep praying for people!!!!