Carry the Burden

Feeling alone is a tricky feeling. There are times when it is a legitimate feeling, but more often than not it is a lie from the devil. Satan wants you to feel like you're alone, even if you're surrounded by people. Because if you feel alone, you're more likely to withdraw, to shut down, to give in to feelings of darkness and depression.

Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

Galations 6:2

Galations teaches us to carry each other's burdens. I'm not sure about you, but I typically think that I'm pretty good about paying attention to the needs of others, listening to their problems, and trying to help in any way possible. I know I can always improve on those, but I also know what I'm really not good at.

And what I'm not good at is letting other people carry my burdens. I stop talking. I don't share my feelings. I believe the lie that no one else has ever experienced what I'm going through and therefore they won't be able to relate. I keep my burden to myself in order to protect myself and the other person. 

But what I'm really doing is not protecting; it's putting up a wall. Let me tell you something, Jesus is not a proponent of building walls. He longs to tear down your walls, to tackle your deepest issues, and one of the most prominent ways He does that is through your interactions with other people. 

And what you'll find, as I have found, when you let other people carry your burdens by talking about real things and being open and honest, is that other people have the same issues you do. They have the same problems, the same struggles, the same insecurities. People also have the same victories. And as we talk about our real life things, God is honored through our encouragement of one another. 

You are neither too good, nor too bad to share what's going on in life. And anyone who makes you feel like either of those is true is not truly living a life that honors God. We can work through our joys, successes, and struggles together. Doing so will only unite us and make us stronger. What a relief it is to know that we are all battling something and we are not alone.

Understanding

Have you ever thought you knew exactly what God was doing, only to find out you were way off? I keep finding myself in that situation lately. 

There are certain things I keep praying for and every time I think God is answering, it turns out that He isn't doing what I'd expected. 

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;  in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 3:5-6

And then I run into Proverbs 3:5-6. Lean not on your own understanding. What I see and understand is wrong so often. And it's terribly hard for me to admit to being wrong. But there is a trust that no matter what, God will make my paths straight. He will take what I've messed up, what I've misjudged, what I've broken, and he will make everything right. 

In His timing, not mine.

Kindness is Contagious

Being kind is not always the easy thing to do. It doesn't always come natural, doesn't always yield a return, can take extra time or resources, and sometimes isn't fun. But the thing about kindness is: it's always a choice.

In every moment you choose whether to say a kind word or do a good deed, or you choose not to. 

I'm not sure how many people you come across day, but I'm guessing I probably average interactions with about 230 people per day during the week, between work and evening fun. That's a lot of people, and a lot of opportunities to choose kindness.

Proverbs 16:24 tells us that kind words are sweet to the soul. Proverbs 12:18a says that the words of the reckless pierce like swords. 

So, if kind words are sweet, and reckless words pierce, it is obvious which choice to make. But that doesn't make it easy.

Never underestimate the power of a positive word. I'm sure you can think of a time where someone's words lifted you up or encouraged you to press on through a hard situation. Your words have that same power--if you choose them wisely. 

And while it might be more effort, more time, more energy, your kindness will do just as much for you as for the person receiving it.