Borrowed Faith
Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2
I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong - that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith. Romans 1:11-12
Insight
My best friend, Rebecca, and I were heading out of town for a much-needed girls' trip. The excitement was tangible as we jumped in the car! A few hours into the trip, we found ourselves in the middle of nowhere - no houses or buildings and very little traffic.
That's why the car pulled over on the other side of the road caught our eye. A lady in the driver's seat desperately waved her arms out the window for assistance. We drove past, and Rebecca said, "I think she may be in some trouble; we need to turn around and check on her."
Thanks to my love for crime television shows, my heart quivered with fear, thinking about what we might find. In seconds, I convinced myself that today would be the last day anyone would hear from us. Everything in me shouted stopping was a terrible idea. I quickly said, "Do you think this is safe? Should we just call the police?"
Rebecca was very confident that we needed to go, so I surrendered to her faith, rested in her confidence, and trusted that we were doing the right thing. We turned around and pulled up to the stranded driver, who was from another state and unfamiliar with her location. She had a flat tire and needed assistance. We pulled in front of her car, called the Highway Patrol, and stayed with her until help arrived.
We had a great conversation on the rest of our journey about how we sometimes borrow strength from each other. When we struggle through difficult seasons or even moments, God wants us to lean on others in our community to help us take steps of faith and encourage and support us in those times. By sharing life together, our relationships deepen so we can share our whole hearts in a loving and supportive friendship when hard seasons come.
I wasn't confident about turning the car around and being vulnerable that day, but I trusted my friend. Those gifts in our lives also help us to be accountable. Accountability is vital as we walk in this world. Finding a godly community allows us to bring darkness into light, which is incredibly freeing. Finding your people or your person is very necessary for spiritual growth. We can try and live it alone, but this is not how our Father intended us to live. Community works both ways. It's not a space where we pour our hearts out and walk away. It is a trusted, invested relationship where we share life together.
Reflection
When did you need to lean on someone else's faith in a moment or season?
How can you find a community to be a part of your daily life?
Prayer
Thank you, Father, for understanding our need for people in our lives. Thank you for church, small groups, and close friends. Help us to see and know how we can grow spiritually, supported by the people around us. Teach us to be encouraging to others as others inspire us. Lead us to our people so that we can invest in solid and loving relationships that challenge us to reflect Your heart to the world around us. In Your name, Jesus. Amen.
Cindy Stauffer, Administrative Assistant at our Wilmington Campus, wrote today's devotional.