Day 14: Why We Need Each Other
Have you ever wondered why we need each other in the Body of Christ? In this devotional, I share a story of when I felt down and couldn’t do life alone. From the 40 Days of Daily Bread Series.
Have you ever wondered why we need each other in the Body of Christ? Well, for one, being lonely is no fun.
But besides being lonely, we have moments when we’re feeling down. I’ve had more days like that than I can count.
Have you ever wanted to peek into someone’s journal? Well, here’s your chance. From yesterday’s journal:
I woke up with a heavy heart today. I went to bed last night with hurts and disappointments still gnawing on my heart. Whiplash pain and frustrations weren’t helping any. To add to the mix, my hormones have been out of balance lately. So discouragement was teaming up nicely with the weakness that prevailed despite my attempts to pray and read the Word.
Then my hair dryer shorted out and became a fire cracker in my hand. Nice. I think I would have rather repeated yesterday’s mishap. Standing outside the shower, I turned on the water and unbeknownst to me the shower head was pointing towards the bathroom instead of the inside of the shower. It promptly dowsed the top of my head, my face and the floor with cold water. Blubbering, I turned it off. I felt like I was in a comic book. At least I laughed at myself!
But today was different. I had a bad day. There were tears. In my weakened state I began to believe the lies the devil was rapidly whispering in my ear. I felt like a failure.
And I shared how I was feeling. I couldn’t do it alone.
We Need Each Other Because We Can’t Do Life Alone
But then the Body of Christ stepped in and brought me encouragement. Your reminders of truth helped drown out the lies. When you lifted me up I felt strengthened. Just knowing you care makes me smile. And I started to feel a little better.
Because a little bit of encouragement goes a long way.
That’s why we need each other.
For the fifth time today I turned on worship music hoping to break all the way through this time. And I watched this:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sxi7PEttnc]
At the end, I knew I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me! (Philippians 4:13) And this time I realized, it was the Jesus in you that strengthened me! Thank you!
If you’re ever feeling down, don’t stay in that state alone. Talk to someone in the Body of Christ. Let them pray for you and encourage you. We need each other!
Apply the Word
This section is to help us respond to the prompting of the Holy Spirit.
“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” James 1:22 ESV
Pray these verses and write them in your journal:
From whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. Ephesians 4:16 NKJV
Let brotherly love continue. Hebrews 13:1 ESV
Will you hug someone and say, “Thanks for being there”? How has the body of Christ encouraged you? Why else do we need each other?
It was the Jesus in you that strengthened me. #DailyBread #ThrivingInChrist #LiveYielded Click To Tweet
It’s wonderful when the Body of Christ is there for you. Unfortunately, it’s also very discouraging whent he Body of Christ around you doesn’t care what’s happening in your life after you leave through the church doors on Sunday.
We’ve all felt that way and even experienced that at one time or another. The goal is not to stay in that state. The devil would like to take an opportunity, even one like this. We must remember that we are accepted in the beloved (Ephesians 1:6). I, too, have struggled with feeling like people cared if I was around or not. I have learned that I have to make a continual effort to reach out to others without focusing on myself. Building relationships takes a great deal of work, and I’ve realized that the rewards do not come right away.
Thanks for your thoughts!
It’s amazing how we get so comfortable without others in our lives. My mom and I never developed a normal (if there is such a thing) mother/daughter relationship. I’m sure it had a lot to do with my uncle and aunt raising me in my primary years. In my maturity I can look back and say my mother didn’t know how to enter my life and I didn’t know how to let her in. I can’t speak for her, but I grew quite comfortable without her in my life. Our far and few in between efforts were fruitless because each wanted something the other couldn’t or wouldn’t give. I prayed until God answered. Through prayer, Holy Spirit ministered that God has to be our common denominator. Restoration can’t be what she want or what I want, it has to be what God desires for the both of us. God’s answer came in the form of Kelly’s 40-Days of Daily Bread. After my third day, I invited my mom to join me. She agreed. Every three days we check-in to share our thoughts. We are just beginning and I don’t know the exact outcome, but I’m open to Gods desire for us.
I’m praying over this relationship. May God continue to work and move and bring healing. This is only the beginning of this testimony. God is good!