Carry the Burden: Community in Christ (day 3/7) - Blog # 29

Read Part 1: the surrender (day 1/7) - Blog # 27

Read Part 2: Embracing out Grief: the Sadness of Saturday (day 2/7) - Blog # 28

“so that I may come to you with joy, by God’s will, and in your company be refreshed” (Romans 15:32)

Prayer: Dear God, thank You for giving us other people. Thank You for knowing that we need each other to build each other up. Thank You for acknowledging that in times of difficulty, we are not strong enough, but giving us people around us who will be a source of strength, faith, hope, and love on Your behalf.

In Jesus Name we pray, Amen.

Do you know what is the most touching thing about friendship? For me, it’s when someone shares life with you. When your victories are their victories, when your sorrows are their sorrows, and when your burdens are their burdens. The depth and intensity of a friendship will never come from sharing the same hobbies or dreams or even lifestyles: it comes from the desire to intertwine your life with theirs and love them as you love yourself.

In this sensitive space of your “Saturday” (read Blog # 28 if you don’t get this reference), who is around you? Is it no one? “God is with me, isn’t that enough?” God, in all his greatness and wisdom, decided that He wanted you to be in community. He wants you around people. He wants you to share and pray and be healed together.

Galatians 6:2 “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”

This is the heart of the Gospel, Jesus carries our burdens to the cross, and we carry each other’s burdens to Jesus.

It’s not a gentle suggestion, it’s a command: carry the burdens of others because no one is strong enough to go through life alone. Like a hand, a foot, an ear, a heart, in itself is important and vital but to work, to function, and to be living within its purpose it must be found within a LIVING body.

1 Corinthians 12: 15-27

“For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.

The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.

Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.”

Did you ever have a headache? Your tooth hurts? Your eye is burning? You stubbed your toe? Your whole body is oriented towards the body part in pain. Every part of the body may be perfectly healthy, but the one body part in pain is not minimized but in fact it is redirected the most care and attention.

If you are not bearing the burdens of the body, of others who are hurting, you yourself will be burdened. Does your body have the fullness of function and capacity when one part isn’t doing well? Bearing the burdens of others is how YOU receive healing and fulfill your own purpose.

We must realize that no part of the body of Christ is disconnected from the other. God intended and designed the church to be a conduit of healing, restoration, love, and for each believer to be enabled to reach their individual purposes by caring for one another.

“What if I have no one around me?”

I pray that you would reach out, that you would ask for help, signal that you are in need -- don’t let pride, embarrassment, or shame hinder you -- because there are people who will care for you: it is their blessing to care for you. It’s definitely not always going to be received well. There are going to be people who make it about themselves, add salt to your wounds, or just don’t give you the comfort and support you’re looking for.

I want to encourage you, understanding how difficult it may be to keep going and keep looking in such a painful place, to keep seeking out others within the body to pray for you, talk to you, encourage you, and bear burdens with you.

“Shouldn’t people look for me?”

Should is such a tricky word. There’s a sense of entitlement that comes from feeling like people have to read your mind and emotions. They’re still just people, and that doesn’t mean they don’t care. Maybe they don’t feel like they have a rightful place to step in or that it would be offensive. Maybe they have no clue you’re going through something. Maybe they want to help, but they don’t even know what you’re looking for.

I think we should be mindful and full of humility even in our pain that although we are suffering, it does not mean the world suddenly revolves around us. Let people know. Give them a chance to care and carve out the time, space, and energy for you.

“They shouldn’t worry about me. I’m such a burden.”

Again, it is the blessing of the body to care for hurting members. It is for the body’s own benefit. You wouldn’t say to yourself “Don’t worry about my broken bone, it’s such a hassle, and I should just focus on the other parts of me that are healthy.”

Be okay with people who are going to be too busy, not interested, or just unable to carry your burdens or at least all the time. Instead, focus on being thankful for them. Be mindful of everyone’s limitations as they are carrying their own burdens too. Instead, even in your pain -- that’s right -- seek to also carry their burdens as well. Pray for others. Encourage others. Seek out their good.

The truth is that having people around me who love me and care about me alone isn’t enough to give me the fullness of peace, joy, or comfort because that can only come from Jesus, but through them I can receive peace, joy, and comfort from God. It’s in addition to God that they give me all these things.

In the midst of my uncertainty and confusion, they can give me a lot of clarity or encouragement or insight. Sometimes all they give me is company -- and that in itself is immeasurable value -- and provide me a safe space to pour out my heart.

For people who are comforting: you don’t need to give advice all the time, there’s time to just be there and feel for the other person too, and ask them how they want to receive love, care, and support.

I am so thankful for the people who have come alongside me, and I am thankful that I am someone who can carry their burdens too. That is the body in action. That is Christ at work. That is love coming to life.

Prayer: Jesus, I pray that no one would have to struggle or walk alone in the midst of their pain and difficulties. I speak against any lies of shame or embarrassment that would keep us from seeking others out. I pray that we would look for hurting people, and give us the heart, wisdom, and discernment to be sensitive, empathetic, and compassionate like You, Lord. I ask that You give us courage to be vulnerable and honest about our pain. I pray that in these relationships, Your love would be at the center of it all.

Thank You Jesus, for being our friend first, and loving us through community. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.

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