We Were Not Meant to Walk Alone

“Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” - Galatians 6:2, NRSV

Jesus gave many directions during his three-year ministry. He gave us the beatitudes, moral lessons via parables, and encouraged us to serve one another.1 Jesus healed the sick, exorcised the possessed, and taught thousands. A consistent overall message during Jesus’ ministry was the importance of our responsibility to serve one another.

We are not meant to walk alone.

Many years after the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus, St. Paul wrote in the letter to the Galatians that we are to “bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ”(6:2). Paul encouraged the people of Galatia that those who are full of the Holy Spirit are also able to help those struggling (6:1). What does this mean? What does this look like? How am I fulfilling the law of Christ by taking on someone else’s burdens?

The Holy Spirit can lead us to those who need our help.

Bearing one another’s burdens is found in the every day. It is found in the walks we take with the friend who is struggling, the conversations we have with the grieving and the prayers we say for the family member stuck in a difficult situation. To bear another person’s burdens is to help the other person carry them. This is not meant to be, “I will do it for you”. This is not what St. Paul meant at all. Rather, it is a walking WITH the person and carrying their burden alongside them. It is an invitation to walk together.

Jesus models for us that he will do the same. He instructs us in Matthew 11:

“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, 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. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” - Matt 11:28-30

In the lightness we experience of casting our burdens on Jesus, we make room for assisting in carrying the load of another.

We were never meant to live this life alone. In the beginning, “. . . God said, ‘It is not good that the man should be alone. . .” (Gen 2:18). Jesus also promised that, “For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them” (Matt 18:20). So, when you are comforting your friend, walking alongside your family member or praying with a complete stranger, God is there. When we come together in His name, Jesus dwells among us.

But, this isn’t always easy. While one person may find it easy to seek out another, a different person may feel lost, isolated, and in need of help themselves. This is when the Holy Spirit can place someone on our hearts and thus lead us to someone who may need help.

 So, I invite you today to reach out to someone who has been on your heart. Pray for the intercession of the Holy Spirit to guide your words as you reach out. Even if you aren’t physically present together, God’s work can still be done. He wants us to be there for one another. Someone’s life may depend on it.

We need each other.

In Christ,

Lauren

1 See Matthew 5:1-12 for beatitudes, Matthew 13:1-53 for many examples of parables and Matthew 19:16-22 for Jesus’ advice to the rich man to sell his possessions and give to the poor.

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All scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) of the Bible

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