Are You In Position To Bear?
Photo by Vonecia Carswell on Unsplash
A few simple words spoken to me yesterday morning after service; “I’ve been praying for you.” Brings tears to my soul still and it was spoken hours and hours ago. And it wasn’t the unintentional fake praying. I had a student that once said that when people say, “I’m praying for you,” that is actually the prayer. Their prayers don’t go any further. That made me chuckle. But back to my encounter. It was from a sister who I have no doubt was engaged in what she said. I didn’t have adequate words to express my gratitude. I did muster a “thank you” and a bit of context for the appreciation. A few minutes earlier, another sister grabbed hold to my hand and said, “Praise God with me!” And I did! Once I arrived home from service, I sent a text to check on another sister whose been in the hospital with her daughter who is in labor. The day prior when I received the news of an earlier than expected delivery, I made a call and prayed with her. After I prayed, she prayed. I knew from that prayer that she was in the process of “bearing” and that she’d been praying all along for this very moment. Everything God does is with intention. I was reminded of Galatians 6:2, which reads, “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” It should come as no surprise that someone is praying for us - nor should they be surprised as we offer similar intercession on their behalf. If in fact we are doing what God instructs, we should be covering each other and walking the difficultly associated with trials and tribulations alongside one another. I want to be clear. It doesn’t mean our challenges necessarily change. That was not a caveat to the directive.
I hear people speaking about their energy and their capacity. I’m certainly not diminishing that reality; however we were instructed to bear one another’s burdens. It doesn’t state, “when things are well for you; or manageable; or conditionally based upon your circumstances.” Two things (and sometimes more) can be true at the same time. We can be postured to believe God for what we need, while we simutaneously are calling to the Father for someone else. In fact, I would suggest that is just how we need to roll because things don’t see to be slowing down. If anything, concerns and issues seemingly are hyper actualizing. This of course comes as no surprise to the Master. Therefore, we must continue to seek God, check in on others, walk through with them and make ourselves available to do the “bearing.”
We must engage the tenets to assist us in bearing. We must involve ourselves in strength training - remaining grounded in the Word, being careful of our speech and of course spending time with the Lover of our Soul, worshipping and praising the One who grants us the abundant life which Jesus died for on our behalf. So if and when we get the phone call, the text or see the look on another’s face, we are able to bear immediately and not tell the person or the situation that we need to get back to them. May the Lord allow us to be more mindful and curious. May He prompt us and may we respond accordingly. Someone else is depending upon our obedience; just like we are depending upon someone else’s obedience as well. It doesn’t require perfection. All that is necessary is availability. We never know the end result. God may elect to lift weights off of both of us at the same time. Let’s practice Galatians 6:2 in community with one another and watch God work!
And…by the time I finished this blog, my sister friend’s grandchild made their safe arrival. Baby and Mom are well. To God be the Glory!