Daily Bible Reading Plans to help you read and understand God’s Word

I found myself in the middle of a circle of my closest friends with their hands laid on me—hands on my back, shoulder, knees, and arms. Moments before, I shared the latest update on my decade-long broken marriage. Normally pretty composed and rarely someone that cries openly, I started to sob. They surrounded me and prayed words I couldn’t have predicted. They dispelled lies in my head that I didn’t know I was believing until they spoke truth over me. It was a visceral moment where it felt like the Holy Spirit was ministering directly to me through the mouths of my friends. Their words were highly specific and pierced my doubts. I had almost canceled that night of Bible study because I was so tired and worn out. If I had, I would have likely missed out on this transcendent moment. 

This moment in our friendship did not happen overnight or because we were special. This was a group of ordinary women who committed to come together every week to pray, confess sin, and study Scripture together. Weeks stacked up into years. We showed up for each other in the little moments—listening ears and “praying for you” texts. We showed up in the big moments—cleaning for a friend overwhelmed by the foster care system, inviting a single mom to regular dinner invitations, making meals for those who had babies or medical procedures.

It didn’t feel like we were building anything extraordinary, until it was. 

Grief, sorrow, joy, happiness, excitement—these emotions burn brighter when shared with the community God built us for. Hearing this can sometimes feel trite and impossible to come by in our introverted, digitally connected world, but it’s not. It happens day after day, in the little moments of consistency, pursuit, vulnerability, and transparency. Being the “one anothers” to our sisters (Hebrews 10:24). As we walk with Jesus we are empowered to walk alongside others (2Corinthians 1:4).

You might be tempted toward discouragement if you haven’t seen the transformation you’ve desired within your community, but take heart. Jesus walked closely with dear friends like Mary, Martha, and Lazurus. Surely they did not always treat Him perfectly. In my tenure on staff at a church, I’ve watched beautiful examples of community bending over backwards to celebrate and mourn together and pray for those who felt they no longer had the words to pray for themselves. These are people that keep saying yes to imperfect friendship.   

In every season and situation, the biggest comfort we can offer one another is pointing each other back to Jesus. Our rest is ultimately in Him. Yes, we need Sabbath and self care and physical rest—but we are given soul rest as Jesus’s beloved (Matthew 11:28). No matter what circumstance we find each other walking through, whether it be mourning or dancing, let us exhort each other of these words: “and so we will always be with the Lord” (1Thessalonians 4:17).