Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2
Recently, a friend had a sibling who was seriously ill and died. When the text came saying they had passed, I requested that they let me know about the funeral arrangements hoping I would be able to attend. Unfortunately, since they live some distance from me, that would be my only time to be there to support my friends in person. Words fall so short at times like this. So, I wanted to hug their necks and let them see in my eyes that I really cared.
A day later, I was on my way to church for Sunday morning service when they texted me that there would not be any funeral arrangements. I immediately began to tear up. Now, this is particularly strange because I didn’t even know their sibling. By the time I got to church, I was still fighting back the tears. As the service started, the tears started rolling down my cheeks and continued for over an hour. When the tears stopped, my head hurt, and my whole body felt like dead weight. That continued for most of the day.
I have pondered this ever since and know that the emotion was not my own. Instead, I believe God was sharing with me His heart for my friend, and His heart felt the sorrow of my friend acutely. As to heaviness all day long, I believe God did not want my friend to share the burden alone that day and allowed me the privilege of carrying a bit of it. I hope, in some inexplicable way, their day was somehow lighter. I can’t prove this and don’t have a word from the Lord that this is what happened, but I do know that if God had asked me to carry some of the burden for my friend that day, I would have gladly said yes.
I did eventually dare to share this with my friend so God could use it in their life in whatever way He chose. Just making it available to Him.
Why did I share this with you? Many reasons but here are three of them.
One, because if you are going through sorrow, I want you to know that God doesn’t just know but is in it with you in a very real and tangible way. You are not alone.
Two, because we really can share one another’s burdens, no matter how inexplicable it might be. God can use you to lighten someone’s load and let them know they are not alone.
Three, because I told two people what happened in an effort to discern what God had done, and I ended it with, “This is not the kind of testimony you write down and share with others.” A couple of days later, this indignation rose up in me. Why don’t we share that kind of testimony?? So I share it today for all the other people that God has used in unusual ways for unusual things, things that no one may really understand. How God uses someone else is not more important than how He uses you. Also, I share it for those who have never been used like this so they can know that, yes, God does work that way sometimes.
Oh, the depth of the riches, both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! Romans 11:33