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When we bear each other’s burdens, we put feet to our faith. I sure have been on the receiving end many times. Years ago an emergency room neurologist said I had the worst herniated disk he had ever seen. That made sense because I couldn’t stand, move, or even sit without unbearable pain. “We’ll give it three weeks,” he said, “and then talk about options.”
Three weeks?
I wasn’t sure how I would cope with two kids at home and a rancher husband with demanding work. And I had a work deadline! I didn’t even have the strength to hold and read my Bible.
An Army of Friends to Bear the Burden
But an army of helpers rushed to my aid. Friends brought over meals and got our kids to ball games and music lessons. A former student orchestrated our daughter’s birthday party. And my mom drove several hours to help before and after my eventual surgery.
Life’s circumstances can be overwhelming. Health struggles, financial challenges, accidents, and more can make us feel stretched to a breaking point. For some of us the toughest decision may be asking for help. We don’t want to burden others, we may be embarrassed, or we may fear they’ll say no. But just as we would be happy to help others in need, others will want to help us.
Supporting and encouraging one another is biblical. Paul wrote, “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2 NIV). The word carry here is the same Greek word used for shouldering a pack or a load. We lift off some of the heaviness someone is bearing and take it on ourselves. In doing so, we fulfill Jesus’ teaching—to love God with everything we’ve got and to love our neighbors (Matthew 22:37-40).
There are many ways we can be part of a faith community that helps bear each other’s burdens.
Be Bold in Prayer
Some people will never ask for help, even though they might desperately need it. Instead of saying, “Can I pray for you?” we can say, “How can I pray for you?” . . . and then stay in touch with that person as the days pass. One friend of mine often writes on social media, “Will you pray for one minute for . . . ?” We may have the best intentions to pray for someone but then forget to follow through. I simply keep a friend’s name on a sticky note in my day planner as a reminder.
Take Church to Them
When someone is in crisis, she may not be emotionally or physically equipped to get out. Visiting may be just what’s needed. When I was bedridden, my friend June came every evening to read the Bible to me. We’d been doing a read-through-the-Bible plan together, and she knew I wouldn’t want to get behind. In another crisis time my friend Hannah dropped by one day and said she’d just come to be with me. She said she didn’t have any pat answers or advice but was available to listen to me and meet any needs I might have.
Meet physical needs
There are so many ways to provide physical help to meet each other’s burdens. As we think about our friends’ daily responsibilities, we can come alongside them in any of numerous ways:
- Take a meal. I’ll often double recipes and put casseroles in the freezer. It’s not complicated to pull one out and add a salad or other side.
- Organize a meal train. You can use an online site such as Take Them a Meal or Meal Train. My friend Kim often does this for folks in our church, and it’s easy to send others the specific link that will include likes and dislikes.
- Offer to care for kids. When our son swallowed a quarter and it got stuck in his throat, it was comforting to know church friends were taking care of our other kids while we rushed to the hospital with the ambulance.
Listen now to a short segment of this Abide meditation based on Hebrews 10:24-25. Let God speak to your heart about what it means to be part of a faith community.
Just as the Good Samaritan met the needs of the man who had suffered others’ abuse (Luke 10:25-37), we also can bear each other’s burdens. Let Abide help you better love God and others. Our more than 1500 biblical meditations all exist to help you deepen your relationship with God. Download the app and start a premium subscription. This unlocks our entire library of content. Use this link for 25% off.
Janet is a national speaker and the author of 26 books—including the bestselling PrayerWalk and her newest, Praying Personalities: Finding Your Natural Prayer Style. She and her husband, Craig, who is a cattle rancher, raised their four kids in the Sierra Valley of California, where they have lived for more than forty years.
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