Worse than being completely blank is knowing what you want to write about, but you can’t seem to get it started. That would be today’s problem. Maybe I should do all my theme posts on the weekend and autopost throughout the week. Like I have time to blog on the weekends….
Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. (Galatians 6:2 ESV)
I never did understand that verse completely until I grasped this one:
Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. (James 5:16 ESV)
I mentioned once before about having to take an issue I was struggling hard with to a small group of very close friends. After that, it became easier to deal with. The problem that was causing my issue didn’t go away, but I found it easier to squash the thoughts that sought to consume me. After sharing my issue, 2 things went to work.
1: I had accountability. I had people close enough to me to know right away if something was amiss, and call me out on it.
2: They were praying for me, with me, and over all the details of the issue, so I was no longer fighting myself alone.
That’s when I finally got what it really means to bear one another’s burdens. No judging, no condemning, just a commitment on their part to keep me from stumbling (and falling on my face). It made my burden lighter; my problem easier to deal with. I’ve been on the other end, and I know it’s tough to make that commitment to someone to hold them accountable and to faithfully pray for them. Tough, but so worth it.
I had problems sharing my burdens with anyone for a long time. I’m a very private person so I know that had a lot to do with with letting all my junk hang out, but the other issue was I really don’t like worrying people. Why put my stuff on them?
I finally got to the point where I realized that this is encouraged in the Bible, accountability puts you on blast, and sharing your struggles with other Christians forces you to be accountable, and actively work on improvements.
I didn’t see it modeled, so of course I didn’t do it, and part of it was a lack of trust thinking I would get judged. I feel very blessed that I have found a group of Christian friends whom I can trust with my struggles and who are willing to put true accountability into practice. 🙂