The effects of living in a fallen world is pretty obvious. Everyone including Christians carry burdens challenging to that individual. WE learned at Hope about how Johnathan and David bore each other’s burdens. When you see someone in pain, suffering, dealing with mental illness or loss and other human experiences… It’s easy to maybe help them for a bit and then go back to focusing on yourself and what’s more significant to you. Or you may not know how to help that person because their challenges are unrelatable, or seem too BIG for you, or personally you are emotionally unavailable from dealing with your own life or you just don’t see other peoples problems as significant as yours and tend to ignore them. Be observant of those around you and practice these 4 things so you can bear other people’s burden: first be intentional of what you are going to do, make a commitment to yourself and the other person when you say you are going to :

Pray for them. I will pray for you, praying for you, keeping you in my prayers are phrases Christians throw out when they hear about other people’s struggles… but most of the time do you really pray for them? Is it a one time thing you do? Commit to praying for that person and keep your promise. Prayer is powerful, and always heard by God. He may not act quickly or the way you want to, but He is working His plan and can bring peace to those in pain.

• Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. James 5:13

Listen to them. Before they share, you can ask them, do you want me to only LISTEN, do you want ADVICE after, and do you want any COMMENTS? When people share their sad/painful/challenging experiences, I just want to dump advice and self improvement and discipline tips on them. Most of the time I need to remind myself shut up Lydia and just listen. Practice listening intently by soaking up every word and looking at their eyes, eyes express so much then words can explain the experiences they went through, and you will connect and see the significance of what they are sharing. Sometimes you are shocked and don’t know what to say, because what else can you say other than sorry if they are experiencing loss? At first Jobs’ friends were doing really well listening. {Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights. No one said a word to him, because they saw how great his suffering was. Job 2:13} BUT they sucked at responding and Job lets them know. [If only you would be altogether silent! For you, that would be wisdom. Job 13:5] Sometimes the best thing to do is not say anything at all, and your presence is enough, actions at this time can be more powerful.  

Encourage them. At the right time you can talk after listening. Avoid ranting too much and being arrogant, be humble, just because you haven’t experienced what they are going through doesn’t mean you are any better. If you share a verse with them, do your homework first and don’t’ take that verse out of context. Build others up when you encourage.

• Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. 1Thessalonians 5:11 

Give more. While listening, praying, encouraging you are giving your time. But sometimes it’s financial problems, even at our age we can help, like with the food donations we brought in and money we donated that’s going to people who can’t afford meals and we are going to see more food lacking problems in society as inflation goes up and everyone’s grocery cost more.

• Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? James 2:15-16

Share to others when you face challenges/sufferings too so others can practice supporting you in those 4 things (Pray Listen Encourage Give). Remember God will reward you in Heaven for the true love you showed to others. By lifting others up you will strengthen the BODY OF CHRIST! BE A POWERFUL WITNESS TO UNBELIEVERS!! AND HONOUR GOD!!!

~ Lydia