carrying the load
I saw something yesterday that really broke my heart.
One of the people I go to church with is having a really hard time. I know a little about it; enough that I can empathize and pray for a young couple that I've never been formally introduced to. One of the great things about the congregation I worship with is that we have an opportunity to share our joys and concerns with each other. Because of this, we as a church family have been praying for the struggles this young couple has faced over the past few weeks.
Maybe it's because of all the difficulties I've been through over the last three years that I feel so badly for this young couple, the young woman in particular. Yesterday, I got to see our church be the church. We prayed for the struggles they're facing. I've been praying for them all week because I felt a burden for them on my heart. I've never really felt that kind of a burden before and I don't understand why it's there, but praying for them seems to be really important to me right now. Up until Thursday, I didn't know the young woman's name. Until yesterday, I didn't know her husband's name. I've heard their names before but I get forgetful about names if I've not been introduced.
I think there are appropriate roles each of us plays in the body of Christ, which is what the sermon was about. The young woman we're talking about is kinda new to our church and I only know who she is because she sits in front of me. One Sunday we wound up in the same pew quite by accident and if I'd been any closer to the isle I'd have been sitting in it. If she's been any closer to the wall, she'd have been part of it. That's appropriate behavior. We only wound up sitting there because I'd put my stuff down and was chatting with someone else and she sat down while I was gone. I would have moved to another pew but I didn't want to appear rude.
Anyway, this was about the church being the church. I noticed the young woman left the service early and didn't see her at the pot luck in the fellowship hall. And then I did. She and one of my favorite ladies in the church were sitting together. It was obvious the young woman had been crying and the other woman was comforting her. And just as it was for me when my burdens became too much for me to carry, the church was there for someone else who is hurting. I can empathize because I've been there. My circumstances were different but my hurts were every bit as real and I found comfort in the house of the Lord from people who were strangers then but are now part of my "family".
I'm sure this story plays out in churches every Sunday. As I said, church is not a country club for saints but a hospital for sinners. Of all the places in the world we can turn to for comfort, or what we think is comfort, like alcohol, drugs, sex, or any number of other things, sometimes hurting people turn to a church and find God's people who are there to not judge, but to love and encourage. I think just knowing that you're not fighting the battle alone is half the solution. I'm hoping the young woman found the encouragement she needed to get through her struggles.
At the outset, I mentioned that one of the people I go to church with is having a hard time. And then I start telling you a story about a young couple. The story then goes to focus on only one person of the couple; the young woman. Her husband is ill and her mother was not doing too well a couple of weeks ago. The young woman is carrying quite the burden and maybe why I feel burdened to pray for them is part of belonging to the universal Church. Galatians 6:2 (NIV) says, "Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." I know what it is to struggle and I know prayer works. Maybe it's because I can empathize. I just know the burden is there and I'm wanting to share it with y'all. I believe prayer works!
So I'm going to ask you dear reader, today, to share in picking up that burden. Their names don't matter. I don't know them personally or I'd share them, but God, the I AM, knows who they are and what they need. I'd hope you'd add the couple that Coop blogged about to your prayer list. I also hope to share with you how important church is.
One of the people I go to church with is having a really hard time. I know a little about it; enough that I can empathize and pray for a young couple that I've never been formally introduced to. One of the great things about the congregation I worship with is that we have an opportunity to share our joys and concerns with each other. Because of this, we as a church family have been praying for the struggles this young couple has faced over the past few weeks.
Maybe it's because of all the difficulties I've been through over the last three years that I feel so badly for this young couple, the young woman in particular. Yesterday, I got to see our church be the church. We prayed for the struggles they're facing. I've been praying for them all week because I felt a burden for them on my heart. I've never really felt that kind of a burden before and I don't understand why it's there, but praying for them seems to be really important to me right now. Up until Thursday, I didn't know the young woman's name. Until yesterday, I didn't know her husband's name. I've heard their names before but I get forgetful about names if I've not been introduced.
I think there are appropriate roles each of us plays in the body of Christ, which is what the sermon was about. The young woman we're talking about is kinda new to our church and I only know who she is because she sits in front of me. One Sunday we wound up in the same pew quite by accident and if I'd been any closer to the isle I'd have been sitting in it. If she's been any closer to the wall, she'd have been part of it. That's appropriate behavior. We only wound up sitting there because I'd put my stuff down and was chatting with someone else and she sat down while I was gone. I would have moved to another pew but I didn't want to appear rude.
Anyway, this was about the church being the church. I noticed the young woman left the service early and didn't see her at the pot luck in the fellowship hall. And then I did. She and one of my favorite ladies in the church were sitting together. It was obvious the young woman had been crying and the other woman was comforting her. And just as it was for me when my burdens became too much for me to carry, the church was there for someone else who is hurting. I can empathize because I've been there. My circumstances were different but my hurts were every bit as real and I found comfort in the house of the Lord from people who were strangers then but are now part of my "family".
I'm sure this story plays out in churches every Sunday. As I said, church is not a country club for saints but a hospital for sinners. Of all the places in the world we can turn to for comfort, or what we think is comfort, like alcohol, drugs, sex, or any number of other things, sometimes hurting people turn to a church and find God's people who are there to not judge, but to love and encourage. I think just knowing that you're not fighting the battle alone is half the solution. I'm hoping the young woman found the encouragement she needed to get through her struggles.
At the outset, I mentioned that one of the people I go to church with is having a hard time. And then I start telling you a story about a young couple. The story then goes to focus on only one person of the couple; the young woman. Her husband is ill and her mother was not doing too well a couple of weeks ago. The young woman is carrying quite the burden and maybe why I feel burdened to pray for them is part of belonging to the universal Church. Galatians 6:2 (NIV) says, "Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." I know what it is to struggle and I know prayer works. Maybe it's because I can empathize. I just know the burden is there and I'm wanting to share it with y'all. I believe prayer works!
So I'm going to ask you dear reader, today, to share in picking up that burden. Their names don't matter. I don't know them personally or I'd share them, but God, the I AM, knows who they are and what they need. I'd hope you'd add the couple that Coop blogged about to your prayer list. I also hope to share with you how important church is.
Comments
Post a Comment