Suffer On

I find it no coincidence that people can be walking through similar seasons of suffering together at the same time. The Lord provides relationships in order to help us share the burden of suffering. Just as Christ himself says, “come to me all you who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest,” He provides a way for our burdens to be carried. Would we partner together in sharing the sufferings of Christ? We do not have a savior who is unable to relate. He has been tempted and tried in every way. Jesus is the ultimate one who gives us freedom, but it doesn’t hurt to have healthy community around pushing us to that freedom (which is Jesus). It is important to have a healthy community of peers, and elders who will speak life into us!

Humans are built for community. We need social interaction! Being in Relationship with others is needed for the prosperity of any person. Our emotions produce a longing within us to be in community with others. We are called to be loved and wanted. It’s normal and it’s good.

I have noticed over the past year or so, whenever I am facing some kind of obstacle or trial there is a peer or someone near me who may be facing the same thing. Again this is not by accident. The Lord provides people to help carry our burdens. Sometimes it might take a little searching to find someone who is facing the same obstacles as you, but The Lord is faithful in leading you to someone.

If you are struggling and don’t know where to turn or you are overwhelmed I would suggest to start talking about it. How will people know that you aren’t doing well if you never share? So many times I have run into random people at a prayer meeting, or some kind of church event, or who knows where, and realized there are other people dealing with the same challenges that I am. The opportunities for fellowship presented just by being open and willing to share how you are REALLY doing will surprise you. The Lord will bring people into and out of your life for specific reasons, in different seasons!

When we discuss God with others we are strengthened. Our faith is built up and the body is edified! When you get together in community and talk about God, we often find things line up. The Lord is speaking the same thing to his people and it is so cool to watch it unfold before our eyes. When you start talking about God, He reveals more of his character to us through his community. We begin to share revelation of who our God is. We begin to share testimony of how the Lord has been good to us and in turn everyone who hears is strengthened. We will overcome by the blood of the lamb and the word of our testimony.

Back to suffering. There are times in our lives where we feel completely alone, there won’t always be someone there to hold our hand through the specific ordeals we face. Each one of our lives is unique and the stories will continually take unexpected and twists and turns. Although we may not be able to fully relate to one another’s struggles 100% we have the unique ability to support one another in a more general sense and that is through the unity we have in Jesus. We know life is going to knock us down. We know that we are going to be offended. We know we will be wronged, lied about, back stabbed, etc. Name the trouble we have all experienced it to some degree. We know we are going to face trials and hardships of many kind, we have been told that through scripture.  It is no surprise. We are all in this crazy life together. We have all been put on earth for such a time as this. We are called to encourage and uplift one another. Hebrews 3:13 “But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.” The days are evil, we have an enemy that is prowling around like a roaring lion ready to devour. It sucks!! It’s hard, this world is a tough place to live in. That’s why as the body we need to be focused on being a support for one another versus a hindrance! The last thing we want to do as the body of Christ is not take care of our brother and sisters. So when we see someone going through difficult times, stop and give them a hand and encouragement.

Here is a big chunk of Galatians 6 but it is describing how we should live as the body.

“Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Sprit, should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, for each one should carry their own load. Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor. Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, ESPECIALLY to those who belong to the family of believers.” Galatians 6:1-10

We are called to restore gently. To be uplifting and kind with our words, that it would benefit anyone who is to hear what we speak of others. We need to restore people gently.

“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” Wow what does that even mean!? We get to fulfill the Law of Christ. We can play a part in that by caring for each other and taking on one another’s sufferings to help support and let them endure. Cool! I want to learn more about that concept of fulfilling the Law of Christ and the part we play in that as His inheritance and advancing his kingdom.

Do not be weary in doing good! You will reap a harvest! Do not give up! Even when life is dragging you down and you have that moment, that option to cheat a little, to just get by the way the world does, or you feel entitled because you have been having a crappy day, week, month or year, keep doing good! Keep pressing on, continue to turn the other cheek because you WILL be rewarded. This is the way of the kingdom, you reap what you sow. Keep on pressing on. Do not be weary in doing good for there will be a harvest! Don’t give up. The reward is Christ Himself! The reward is the surpassing greatness of the knowledge of knowing Christ Jesus our Lord. Seek his presence, be found in him. Live in the secret place of His presence.

Lastly let us do good to all people. ESPECIALLY to those who belong to the family of believers.

Here is a question for us, do we sometimes treat people outside of the church better than our brothers and sisters in Christ? Do we feel like ministering to the lost and broken is more important than clothing the person sitting next to us in church service? How can we get this idea of loving one another right, if we don’t even love the people well who are right in front of us? Sometimes I wonder what our motivation is. Lord what are my motives? Is it easier or more glamorous to go do “homeless” ministry and give myself some kind of pat on the back when the person next to me in church is having a really bad day and I am not even taking the time to stop and pray and encourage them? It’s all a balance but do you see what I am saying? It is scary how “conditional” my love can be. It’s like,” I will love who I want to, when I want to, when it is convenient”.  “I planned on going downtown to love on homeless people tonight God, not the girl crying in the corner at church.”

Just an example but I am trying to reveal the heart motive there. Sometimes we pick and choose how we want to love. It’s not okay. We shouldn’t choose favorites with who we are willing to minister to. People are people. If we ignore the command, love your neighbor as yourself, we are missing it. We are called to love all people, at all times. It is not a matter of picking and choosing what your “ministry” is. We are called to be priests to all people! The main point I want to make here is MOTIVE. If we go out to love on people down town, but we are unwilling to love the unlovable right in front of us, ultimately that love we are displaying is coming out of our own strength and motives and will be depleted in a short amount of time. Our love is conditional when we pick and choose who to love. We are called to love unconditionally.

So that ties back into “do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”

Let’s not ignore our brothers and sisters in Christ who are suffering right in front of us. Let us not get distracted from the needs in our community and the people who are crying out for support and help.

My pastor recently mentioned something about “getting down in the pit with people.”

We don’t like doing that do we? Haha Picture it! Someone in a pit, wet, with mud all over them. We have the tendency to stand on the edge of the pit in some kind of white blazer and white plans (we don’t want to get dirty), or business suit, and throw a rope over and are asking them to climb out. We yell down, “I know you are wet, I know you are weighed down by all that mud, even heavier than you were before, I know you are exhausted, yes I know,  but can’t you just get it together? Muster up the strength and pull yourself out! Come on use those arms! I threw you a rope what else do you want me to do?” Should we throw them a rope, or get down in the pit with them? Get down there and push them up. Get below them. Serve. 

That seems a little more of like what Jesus would do to me. The servant of all, coming down into some kind of messy hole and saving everyone. Go Jesus!

He has shown us the way to be the greatest. Be the least. Leave your White Blazer at home, don’t be afraid to get your White Washed Tomb a little dirty on the outside. We are all messy. Let’s help each other out. No one has it all together.

I think I made a mistake recently with this. I didn’t understand that you don’t have to fix people. (I did logically but my actions didn’t portray that) Sometimes there is nothing to say, nothing can be said in times of suffering. Just cry. Just cry with them, weep with them, don’t try and make everything okay. Let God do what he does, The Lord does the healing. Just be with them. Suffer with them, and hold fast to the hope and truth that Joy does come in the morning. Everything has been made beautiful in its time.

Anyway, we find support through friends and peers who get down in the pit with us, but we also find encouragement from those who are older than us. It is that moment when you have your head down, and you are all pitiful and woe is me, then you see someone you admire and look up to, and they tell you it’s going to be alright. Then they share part of their testimony and you begin to actually believe them when they say it is going to be alright.

The mentor gives you a little insight into their life and similar trials they have faced and you realize they still love the Lord and are blessed and on fire for God and you are like, “huh, I guess it isn’t the end of the world after all?”

My advice to you is find someone older than you who can encourage you and give you that “Aha” moment. Find a mentor who will share their testimony and pull you off your butt and tell you “it’s gonna be alright.” After they tell you that, believe them! It is going to be alright. You can do it! We are all in this together, like that cheesy high school musical song.

Read the “Hall of Faith” in Hebrews 11. So many people have gone before you, So many people have suffered in the same way you are suffering. Join the body of Christ in our suffering! Welcome to the club, but it is all for the surpassing Greatness and glory of Jesus Christ our Lord. He is worthy of praise. Praise that comes out of our mouths motivated out of anguish and praise that is motivated out of joy. God is good all the time. The lord was good and faithful to those who have gone before you and he will be good and faithful to you! He is the same unchanging God! The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob! He will provide. Everything is going to be just fine.

I’ll leave you with an encouraging word from the creator of the universe,

 “Take heart, for I have overcome the world” –Jesus.