Who are you supported by?
We all look forward to embracing the New Year with big expectations, fresh ideas, and new dreams. However, none of us think, or anticipate what kinds of struggles will come our way nor know how to prepare to face them.
For example, when we finished our last Women’s Bible Study, we celebrated, we shared, we prayed, we embraced, and we went on our way with the hopes that we would start where we left off. Unfortunately, many disruptions have happened during this short break. There have been many unexpected and sudden losses, accidents, and new diagnoses just within our church community. This month marks my 20th year working for the church. I don’t remember a year that started with so many struggles.
As Pastors, we are at some level used to going through emotionally hard seasons of life with people while we journey with them through different stages of life. This year, for some reason, it feels like we started our year on the wrong foot.
During our short break from gathering, I had more time to visit with people one-on-one, especially those who needed it the most. I love this area of ministry. Although it is emotionally hard, it is also very rewarding when coming alongside people as we love, support, pray and encourage them.
Although life is hard, we are not meant to do it alone. We are meant to experience life as a community. We were created for community. The Bible tells us in 1 Corinthians 12:26, “If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.”
One example is Women’s Bible Study small groups. I often get to see firsthand the importance of having a support group. It gives me great comfort when I visit people who are connected to or are part of a small group in our church. Aside from pastoral care, women’s groups come together to walk alongside each other. At the same time, offering physical, emotional, and spiritual care through providing food, calling or texts, visits or prayers, or anything else needed.
In difficult times like these, we become family. A bond is created that wouldn’t happen outside this group. God rejoices when we take care of each other.
For the church to be healthy, vital, and strong as a body, we all need each other. God has specially designed us to work together, and he has gifted us differently so we can function in perfect unity. Your spiritual gifts are part of God’s way of equipping you for effective service and edification of the body of Christ.
Who is your emotional support group when you are struggling? Where do you go for comfort?
We can’t prevent bad situations from happening to us, nor are we exempt from illnesses. But we can prepare ourselves, and it is never too late to get connected with a spiritual support group for when those moments come. While we prepare ourselves and live out our lives, we can extend a hand and help someone in need through prayer or an act of kindness.
Have you had recent encounters that make you wonder if they were sacred encounters? I would like to hear about it. I love hearing how amazing our God is and how divinely He works.
Serving Him Together,
Grimelda Sanchez
Associate Pastor