The Challenge of Asking for Help

I have never been one who likes to ask for help. Sharing something personal made me feel vulnerable and open to hurt, and I carried the persistent worry of “bothering” someone with my needs.

But during my divorce and in the years that followed, asking for help became a necessity. There were days when I couldn’t be in two places at once and needed help with school pickups. There were days when I desperately needed a listening ear and empathy. There were days when I felt uncomfortable attending events alone and longed for someone to save me a seat.

Gradually, I learned to open up and reach out, discovering that letting others in doesn’t diminish our strength; it multiplies it. Community grows when we give others the chance to show up for us, just as we would do for them. Some of the help I received bloomed into connections in the most beautiful ways, opening doors to deeper relationships and unexpected wells of gratitude.

Community grows when we give others the chance to show up for us, just as we would do for them. (Jennifer Burchill asking for help quote)

Support in Every Season

When I pause to reflect, I am overwhelmed by all the ways my community has shown up for me, not just during challenging times, but through countless small gestures and significant moments throughout my life. How could I not feel deep gratitude for the countless ways community has carried me:

The foundation of family and the traditions that bind us together—whether it’s savoring a favorite family recipe or sharing the silly joke that gets retold at every holiday gathering.
Teachers who made me believe my dreams were within reach, their encouragement lighting a spark.
Neighbors who modeled courage in everyday life, showing me possibility just by the way they lived.
The continual belief of loved ones, like my father telling me I should write a book, that I had something meaningful to say.
Wisdom shared by mentors and pastors who guided me toward communities where I could find belonging.
Friends who appeared at just the right moment—walking beside me through motherhood, court trials, post-divorce parenting challenges, and celebrations, reminding me that joy and laughter are still possible.
The surprising kindness of strangers that changed the course of a moment, like the person who helped me make it home when I was stranded at an overseas airport when I was sixteen.

Carried by Community

These gestures, both small and profound, were lifelines. A neighbor’s wave, a friend’s unexpected text, or even a smile from a stranger reminded me I wasn’t alone. The deeper acts of love—friends who listened without judgment, family who reminded me of my strength, and new connections who welcomed me in, were the soul-soothing reminders of the transformative power of community. Whether these connections last a lifetime or bless us only for a season, each one carries the gift of gratitude.

Community reminds us that life doesn’t happen in isolation. When we pause to reflect and give thanks for the people who show up along the way, we begin to see the extraordinary in what might seem like ordinary moments. Gratitude for community reminds us that relationships are what transform difficult seasons into opportunities for deeper connection and ordinary days into treasured memories.

A neighbor’s wave, a friend’s unexpected text, or even a smile from a stranger reminded me I wasn’t alone. (Jennifer Burchill gratitude quote)

As I reflect on my own story, I invite you to pause and ask yourself:

In what specific ways can you ask for help from someone in your community this week?
Who are you most thankful for showing up when you needed them most? (Have you told them?)
How might you be that person for someone else?

I am endlessly grateful for the community that has carried me. My hope is that you, too, find strength, belonging, and joy in yours.

Meet Jennifer Burchill

Meet Begin Within: A Gratitude Series feature author, Jennifer Burchill, an author who believes in the magic of shared stories, the strength in appreciation, and the power of turning pain into purpose.

Jennifer is the author of Gifts of Gratitude: A Journey of Remembrance and Connection and a collaborative author for Rediscovering You: A Guide to Life After Divorce. She believes in the magic of shared stories, the strength in appreciation, and the power of turning pain into purpose. Through reflections, journaling prompts, and gratitude practices, she helps others celebrate connection, preserve memories, and create a legacy of love. She loves traveling, reading, live music, Gilmore Girls, and crossing off Bucket List adventures with her son and daughter.

Where to find her . . .

Begin Within: A Gratitude Series, hosted by Twyla Franz

Begin Within is a series to inspire a year-round lifestyle of gratitude that will impact not only your own life, but the lives of your neighbors as well. Gratitude is a theme we talk about often around here because it ties so closely into other missional living rhythms. Practicing gratitude reminds to keep our hearts soft and expectant and our eyes open. Therefore, the more we embrace gratitude, the easier it becomes to truly see our neighbors and where we can join what God is already doing in our neighborhoods.

If you would like to contribute to Begin Within, you can find the submission guidelines here.