Many times when we are facing the hard times in life we feel alone and abandoned. We feel like there is no one in the world who can understand the struggles that you are facing. Often because we feel this way we begin to isolate ourselves from people and places in an effort to protect ourselves from feeling left out.
The problem with this response is that we were not meant to go through this life alone. As I have shared before God often works in our problems through the loving hand of his people. It is essential that we not cut ourselves off from community when we are struggling in life.
In fact, I have come to discover that if we are willing to be open to others God will bring people into our lives to love, support, and guide us through the trials we are facing. Many times he will wisely connect you with someone that has walked your road or a similar path before you.
I call these people divine connections, because it often seems as though God hand selected this person to be in your life for such a time as this. I have seen mothers who have have lost children connect. I have witnessed women who share similar diagnoses embrace and encourage one another. I have seen people who have made similar mistakes in their life team up to hold each other accountable. I have watched as mother’s whose children fight similar battles join forces to support one another. I love witnessing these divine connections that God gives us as a gift to shine his light into our lives on our darkest days.
Some of the strongest bonds of love and friendship forged through the fiery trials of life.
Each time that I have witnessed or experienced one of these divine connections I have noticed that they require three elements:
1. Honesty. You have to be willing to be open and honest with where you are and what you are struggling with for a strong connection to be made.
2. Faith. It is important that you acknowledge that you were not brought together to lean only on each other but rather to help each other lean wholly on God.
3. Truth. The foundation of these divine connections must be the word of God and your words and actions must be rooted in helping one another navigate the rough road by God’s map instead of your own.
I encourage you to be willing to be open to connecting with someone through your struggle. Do not close yourself off from the world but prayerfully ask God to send a friend that can support you through this time.
As you pray for that connection… remember this… rarely will that person walk up to your door out of nowhere. You need to be willing to stay involved in community to make those connections. Attend church, get involved in a small group, and visit a support group for people that are dealing with similar issues that you are.
I know that it is not always easy to do… but I also have come to believe that many times friendships are the fingertips that God uses to carve his love and faithfulness into the circumstances of our lives.
Keep in mind that strong friendships are never meant to replace our relationship with God or the time that we spend with him. Instead these relationships should encourage our faith and give us opportunity to be tangible reflections of God’s love and the lessons that he is teaching us through our struggles.
I love this song by Point of Grace that reminds us that we often find shelter, support, and love in a circle of friends.
I invite you to travel with me on this 40 day journey as I seek to find and share perspective in our pain. Connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, or by subscribing to the blog. Feel free to also catch up on the previous posts in this series by clicking here.
Today, I would love to hear your thoughts about the support and love of connections -please feel free to leave a comment below.
