Carry Each Other’s Burdens

With all the snow and ice we had recently in the UK, there have been many instances of people helping each other to do the practical things of every day life, such as collecting shopping and clearing footpaths. Cars slipping on the ice have provided many opportunities for able bodied individuals to help others by giving a push, (but also opportunities for those helpers to damage their backs if not careful!)

One night, when I was taking a young person from our team to the station, we encountered a train stuck on icy rails which needed another train to come along and give it a push in order to get it on its way. There’s no telling when help may be needed.

It reminded me of the verse in the Bible instructing us to ‘carry each other’s burdens’ (Galatians 6:2). To me this means that we should endure with, or walk with, someone in their problem. Much of the healing ministry involves walking with individuals as they take hold of Kingdom teaching and then receive healing from Jesus. Occasionally there may be a dramatic and instantaneous change in their life, but often we need to be patient and spend a lot of our time to come alongside them. Instead of the one-off input of muscle power which is needed to get a car on its way, we are to take the Jesus way of helping others which more often involves aiding a gradual process of restoration to wholeness.

So as we minister to people let’s not just pray for wisdom and discernment, but also for the patience to allow God to do His work. Carrying the burdens of others may not be a short term matter!

Prayer: Lord Jesus, since You walked on this earth You have been patiently bearing the burdens of Your people, carrying the load of our sin on the Cross and then continuing to help us by Your Spirit. Please give us the enduring love for those we seek to minister to so that we too can go on, supporting them into the place of healing and wholeness, even though it may take some time. Thank You for not giving up on us when things get difficult, Amen.