I'm all for bearing one another's burdens, but I like to be the lean-ee, not the lean-er. I don't mind being the one that people come to in times of distress. I enjoy talking to them, praying with and for them, encouraging them.
So why is it so hard for me to be on the receiving end of unburdening? I've boiled it down to a couple of main reasons:
1.) Pure and simple, dumb pride. It's hard to admit that I'm struggling, especially if it's something that I brought on. It's one thing to ask someone to pray that I'll get over a cold (which I couldn't help getting); it's another to ask someone to pray that I'll change my attitude toward money, or work, or my enemies.
2.) I don't want to be a burden to anyone. This is really dumb. It's not a sin to lean on others; in fact, it's a commandment:
Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2
But it's still hard for me to follow. I realize that God doesn't tell us to do things that come naturally; He gives us commands because, without them, we probably wouldn't do it. I mean, He doesn't have to command me to breathe or to eat. But I get this idea in my head that I'm going to be too much for someone to handle, and they'll end up rejecting me and then I'll be left high and dry.
Well, the key to that one is for me to have more than one person to lean on! (Genius idea, I know.) But sometimes no one is available to talk or vent to. It's then that I realize that God is the One who I should be going to first to unburden myself. There's nothing too big, too dramatic, for Him to deal with.
It's been a troublesome week for me, and a big part of me wanted to keep that to myself. But over the past couple of days, I've swallowed my pride and shared my troubles with a few people. Their encouragement--through words, phone calls, and most of all, prayers--is making such a difference in my outlook.
I've also opened up more to God and prayed more about all the things, big and small, that are troubling me. I can't yet say that I'm able to completely lay my burdens down without picking them up again. But I'm getting more used to this leaning thing.
ABOUT TIME
10 hours ago
3 comments:
Sister, you can lean on me anytime!! I think God put us all on this big mudball together so we could lean on each other. But you're also right about leaning on Him. I definitely think He expects is to lean on Him. In fact, I have gone through times when it seemed that there was no one else to lean on but God. I think it's all about balance. Leaning on one helps us to be more able to lean on the other. And - who knows - sometimes leaning on someone else may actually minister to them by helping them realize they aren't alone OR taking their mind off their own troubles by giving them a chance to minister to you.
Hey Lisa, you know you aren't in it alone. I know what you mean about being the one others can lean on, but sometimes we need to be the one leaning. You've got a big group of friends willing to be there for you!
I hate to need help, I hate to ask for help.
But I know that is cheating someone else out of a blessing...
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