I have to be honest, I borrowed this title from my favorite music group, CAIN (I know, I know-I am always endorsing them, but they make such wonderful music, and I can't help it). They have a great song, which is included in this blog, with the same title. In all honesty, I think CAIN got the title from the Bible. In the Bible, verse after verse talks about the importance of loving others, serving others, being in a community with others, edifying others, and so on. The entire Bible is one big love story: the Father loving His children, and the Father teaching his children to love one another.
One particular verse about people needing people that stands out is Galatians 6:2: “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way[,] you will fulfill the law of Christ.” If I am understanding this verse correctly, it is basically saying that if we help to carry each other’s burdens, we are acting more like Christ. I don’t know about you, but I definitely want to act more like Christ.
In order for this to happen, two conditions must be fulfilled. First, we have to willingly seek people to talk with and to fellowship with: to whom we will open up and will allow them to carry our burdens. Secondly, we must be willing to reciprocate when those same people, or others in our circles, are carrying burdens. We have to be willing to be sharers sometimes, and we have to be willing to be listeners sometimes; we have to have balance.
We have to allow people into our pains, and we have to be willing to take on the burdens of others.
Some might think this: Well, I have too many issues all on my own to take on other’s pains. But you see, that’s where God provides. He tells us in Matthew 11:28-29: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you[,] and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
From the very beginning, we were never meant to live our lives in isolation, and we were never meant to live through our pains alone (you will also hear this in the CAIN song: “Back in the beginning, there were two in the garden/No, we were never made to be alone”).
I am sure we have all been there; we have listened to a family member's or a friend’s hardships, and it breaks our hearts. It deeply grieves us; it burdens us. Fortunately, we do not have to carry that person’s burdens alone. We can turn around and can give those burdens directly to the Lord, and we will feel lightened when we do. We can have faith knowing that our family member's or friend’s burdens will be lightened, too.
Recently, I had a friend who was experiencing a burden talk with me about some hurts she was experiencing. After letting me in on her burden, she apologized and said she felt like she shouldn’t have done that, but the Holy Spirit led me to respond saying, “That’s why God gave us people. He knows we can’t carry these burdens alone, so He gives us one another.”
I assured her that I had already given this to the Lord, and it was not burdening me; I said that I hoped that she felt lighter, too. We hugged, and I truly hoped she did feel a sense of relief after releasing this burden.
We can give our burdens to the Lord, and we know He hears us, but He has also given us a community of people so that we can bring our burdens to one another, too. He created us for each other; God never meant for all of this independence that we all think we have to have all of the time.
God knows our darkest secrets and our deepest anxieties; I just had my knee replaced, and leading up to the surgery, dozens of people asked me if I was “scared.” My answer was always, “No, I’m not scared; I’m excited!” However, admittedly, as the day drew near, I had a conversation with my mom about this question: “Why is everyone asking me if I’m scared? Should I be?” Of course, she said I was fine if I was not scared.
However, maybe I was a little worried about some things that I did not even realize, and God knew it because he knows our hearts, our worries, and our fears. While I didn’t feel scared, maybe I was a little anxious without even realizing it.
When I woke up from surgery, I was met with the familiar face of a friendly nurse whom I had talked with many times at church: Brenda. I was so thrilled that she was my nurse, and I believe her familiar and friendly face was a gift from God. I know all of the nurses would have been fantastic, but God wanted Brenda to be my recovery nurse. He planned it; if it’s good, it’s God.
You see, I was a bit of an emotional mess; the combination of pain medication, the new pain I felt, and the emotions of a new (albeit temporary) life of limitations caused me to be extra emotional. How can I keep doing work and keep being productive when I can’t walk?
Brenda was someone at church whom I had wanted to get to know more, but whenever we had served together, we were washing dishes and were cleaning up, so we had never had a lot of time to get beyond surface-level conversations. Because Brenda was my nurse, I could share with her about the Vine and Branches Stories project, and we could talk about the importance and the power of Goodness-of-God stories. She has stories; we all do.
God knew I needed Brenda as my recovery person. His gift allowed me to continue to work; I could continue to talk about that which brings me the greatest joy: Jesus and His goodness.
Truth be told, I probably would have talked anyway (God has made me bold lately), but with Brenda as my nurse, I could do this without worrying that my nurse would think I’m talking only because I’m a loony-bird hopped up on pain medication.
I could go on and on about the amazing people whom God has placed in my life. I become overwhelmed with emotion when I start to think about the loving people I have in my corner. The people who sacrifice for me. The people who pray for me. The people who lift me up with encouragement. The people who walk beside me in life as well as in this Vine and Branches Stories ministry. I am truly blessed, and I hope that if you are reading this, you know I love you, and I view you as a genuine gift from God.
Thank you, God, for Your goodness once again; I don’t deserve all that You give me, but You continue to provide all that I need.
