Jessica Albritton, Family Connections Minister, LHBC
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
The other day I had a day. You know the kind… where everything seemed to go sideways and you end the day both physically and mentally drained. The day started off at 5:30am. It was supposed to wrap up around 3:30 but as life would have it I didn’t pack up my stuff to head home until 5:30pm. I was heading home to my family group for Bible study when I received a phone call with some pretty heavy news. As I pulled in the parking lot 6 people were waiting on me. We all head into the living room, hands full, heart heavy, head hurting, trying to pull myself together and muster up enough energy to get through the next few hours.
We all go in and I put on the fake smile, welcome everyone in my home, everyone is having a great time, taking off shoes and bundling up with blankets on the couch. I walk into the kitchen for a second to take a deep breath. I just needed a minute. I whisper a quick prayer asking God to calm my nerves and steady my spirit. Then I feel it, someone standing right behind me. I turn around and flash a smile, “Hey! How are ya?” She gives me a look that says I am not fooling her. “Can I give you a hug? I don’t know what is going on in your head right now but something is off and I just feel like you need a hug…”
You know, the whole day had been off from the very beginning but I had done a pretty good job of masking it. But here in my kitchen at the end of the day this sweet friend saw something no one else had. She saw it because we spent time together. We are in community together. She saw a difference in my demeanor because she knows me well. I slowly dropped the smile and my shoulders slumped. She came close and gave me a hug. And you know what, it was just what I needed. It communicated she saw, she was there, she cared, and she loved me enough to be with me in the mess.
We all need people like that in our lives. We need friends that will pick up on the subtle changes in our body language and have the boldness to speak into it. And sometimes we just need a big ole hug… Life can be a really hard and lonely place when we walk through it alone. Scripture is riddled with this truth! Proverbs 17:17 reminds us that a friend loves at all times, Proverbs 27:17 tells us we are to sharpen one another as iron sharpens iron, and Matthew 18:20 reminds us as we gather the Spirit is with us. Romans 12:5 reminds us we are all of one body and we are to work together, John 15:2 tells us to love one another just as Jesus loves us, and Hebrews 10:24 encourages believers to spur one another on and to not forsake meeting with one another. I could go on and on but you get the picture, we were made for community, we were made for one another.
Do you have a family group that you can let your guard down with? Do you have friends that care enough about you to notice when you seem off? If you don’t have that go and get it! Don’t carry your burdens alone, find some faithful friends who will carry it with you!
For a list of family groups at Living Hope visit HERE
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your faithfulness! And thank You for Your great love towards us! Thank You for the community that You provide in the body of believers! Lord, help me remember when I am walking through this life I don’t have to carry my burdens alone. In Jesus name, amen!
MEMORY VERSE FOR THE WEEK:
Romans 10:15
And how are they to preach unless they are sent?
As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!