We all know that Bill Withers song, “Lean On Me” that has probably been stuck in our head at some point or another. “You just call on me brother when you need a friend. We all need somebody to lean on.” This catchy song, though sung from a secular viewpoint, points back to the biblical principle from Galatians 6:2 that calls us to “bear one another’s burdens”.
Here’s the truth: we live in a broken, imperfect world. James 1: 2-3 does not say “if” we face trials, it says “when” we face trials. The trials that we experience in this life are often heavy weight to carry and we were not meant to do it alone.
In some semblance, every program at Lubbock Impact has a foundation that is meant to help bear the burdens of those that come seeking hope, empowerment and healing. Everyone comes in not just with a need but also with a story: one car problem landed a gentleman out of work, escalating health problems left a friend behind on bills and evicted from her home, families grieving the tragic loss of loved ones, dangerous home lives and so much more.
The honor and privilege to be a source of help and hope for those feeling helpless and hopeless, bearing their burdens with them and providing practical help, is an incredible opportunity. Can we be transparent though? It gets heavy for us sometimes too. To witness our brothers and sisters battling intense trials is hard. Sometimes there’s a practical solution that we can immediately jump in and help with, showing the love of Jesus through a hot meal or a fresh pair of clothes. There are other times though where all we can do is share the love of Jesus through being a hand to hold or a shoulder to cry on, bearing the burden with them and lifting it up to our Heavenly Father.
Ephesians 6 reminds us that “…we do not wrestle against flesh and blood…”. This truth is an incredible reminder of the importance of not trying to fight our battles alone. As a staff at Lubbock Impact, we need someone to lean on too. We are so grateful for our community of church partners, dedicated volunteers and our personal support systems that check in, offer practical help and most importantly, bring us and our friends to the Father in prayer. A few weeks ago, our church partner friend, Rusty with Turning Point Church, stopped by (and brought some goodies with him) for the sole purpose of praying with the staff, bearing the heaviness of recent weeks with us. Rusty empathized as the staff expressed the ever-growing needs in our community and provided wisdom that enriched not only the collective approach to this ministry, but also reignited individual passion within each staff member. Though it’s hard to not feel helpless against the battles we face, we know that we have a Father who fights for us (Exodus 14:14) and this truth drives us forward.
May we all cling to the reminder of Psalm 73:26 “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”