Carry one another’s burdens; in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. – (Galatians 6:2, HCSB)
Help each other with your troubles. When you do this, you are obeying the law of Christ. – (Galatians 6:2, ERV)
Love empowers us to fulfill the law of the Anointed One as we carry each other’s troubles. – (Galatians 6:2, TPT)
Right now, I know a couple of people who are in the throes of tremendous loss; one just lost her son, and the other’s best friend lost her grandson. The weight of grief is far too great a burden to bear alone. It comes in waves and threatens to pull us under. However, when family and friends and community surround the grieving, they provide a hand to help hold heads above water, and give buoyancy in the sinking spaces. What I have observed in both instances, is an incredible outpouring of love, prayers and practical, tangible help in the places where it is needed most. When we reach out, we are extending a hand that helps lighten the load. Nothing we do can lessen the loss, yet the reaching out, the outpouring of what is needed, reminds the burden bearer that they are not alone. Our hands, hearts and voices can be tangible evidence of God’s love when it is extremely difficult to see. Though we cannot take the pain away, we can do something to share the burden, thus fulfilling God’s law to love. May we ever seek the Lord to grant us wisdom and grace so that we are empowered to walk beside the burdened and help carry the load.
When life’s troubles come,
As they always do;
May we walk beside,
Help see people through.
For we are each called,
To above all, love;
Care for each other,
As God does above.
Each time we reach out,
In practical ways;
We show the Lord’s love,
And extend His grace.
Lead us, Lord Jesus,
To help carry loads;
Through helping, giving,
At life’s tough crossroads.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You call us to help carry one another’s burdens. Thank You for the countless times that You have surrounded me with a community that walked beside me and lessened the load when it was too great for me to bear alone. Forgive us for the times that we see a need and neglect to reach out. Teach us to turn to You to guide and equip us to do what we can, whenever and wherever we can, to love as You love. Show us practical ways to come alongside those who are carrying weight that is far too heavy to bear alone. Lead us in Your love so that Your help, hands and heart may be made known. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we navigate our days with open hands and hearts, ready to reach out as You would. Amen.
© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present
Each one helps the other, and says to another, “Take courage!” – Isaiah 41:6
Revelations In Writing 