We Are Stronger Together

There is danger in isolation.

Photo by Priscilla Du Preez 🇨🇦 on Unsplash

Has anyone hurt you before? Have you felt left out and ignored? I know how you feel, because I’ve been there. I think we all have at some point in our lives.

After getting hurt, it feels easier to stand back and not connect with others. Putting on a tough exterior, we try to ignore the pain. We wear masks so others won’t see how much we ache. Not wanting to be wounded again, we put up emotional walls between ourselves and other people, never allowing ourselves to be vulnerable.

Life passes us by as we watch. We lurk on social media for a feeling of connection, which we desperately desire, but we don’t reach out anymore, and genuine connection evades us. We attend events, but don’t interact. Sometimes we just stay home altogether and avoid others at all costs.

It’s lonely… and isolating… which makes it dangerous.

Isolation leads to spiritual impairment — and the enemy loves to target the weak. Separation from others, specifically our brothers and sisters in Christ, makes it easier for the enemy to attack and bring us down. It becomes effortless for the enemy to plant doubts and insecurities in our faith.

Like a lion lying in wait, when the young or weak get separated from the herd, he gets an easy meal and devours it.

Loneliness can lead to the enemy destroying us. I’ve seen people who have deteriorated mentally and physically because of loneliness. I’ve seen and experienced spiritual struggles because of being separated from other believers. We are constantly at battle with the enemy, and we can’t fight him alone.

We are not supposed to navigate life on our own.

When God created Adam, He said it wasn’t good for him to be alone and so He created Eve, someone he could walk and talk with, who was like him in intellect as well as emotion. They shared experiences, and they shared a relationship with God.

We also need others around us, people we share things with, to help support us when times are hard. Community is important. We need a “herd” or “flock” to stay with for protection. Supporting and uplifting each other is pivotal.

“Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2 NASB1995

We are called to support each other.

In Exodus 17, when the Amalekites came and fought against Israel, Moses stood at the top of the hill with the staff of God in his hand.

“So it came about when Moses held his hand up, that Israel prevailed, and when he let his hand down, Amalek prevailed.” Exodus 17:11 NASB1995

Holding his hands up was a symbol of their appeal to God for help in their defense, to defeat the Amalekites. But Moses was just a man, and he grew tired. Each of us would become weary when holding our arms up like that for a long time.

Recently while homeschooling my child, there was an activity where the child tries to hold their arms out for a solid minute, which they end up not being able to do. But the next time they try, someone else holds their arms up, and they see that they can do it with help. The same thing played out with Moses.

“But Moses’ hands were heavy. Then they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it; and Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side and one on the other. Thus his hands were steady until the sun set. So Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.” Exodus 17:12-13 NASB1995

We must appeal to God for strength and help to overcome the battles we face in this life. We carry so many burdens, and we need to bring them to the feet of Jesus. But we also need our brothers and sisters in Christ to come alongside us and share our burdens when we are weak.

“Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves.” Romans 15:1 NASB1995

Find your people.

You may feel alone right now, but never forget that God is with you. He has also prepared people to help support you. I encourage you to become part of a church home if you don’t have one. Find your “herd” or “flock.” Pray for discernment, for God to bring trusted people to you to whom you can open up your heart. Share your burdens so they can encourage and uplift you.

Let people come behind you and kick the jaws of the enemy for you with the Truth of God’s Word when you are weak and being chased. Let them run circles around you in prayer, which helps protect you from spiritual attacks.

And then when you are strong again, which will happen, you go help others who are weaker. You kick the jaws of the lion and help them run away to safety.

If the enemy can keep you isolated, he’s already won most of the battle. Being alone in our hurt or our sins can lead to defeat. We need openness, transparency, admonition, and support from others.

“Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11 NASB1995

We can be victorious.

When deep hurts wrack our hearts and minds with pain, the encouragement of others as we learn to give our burdens and hurt to Jesus is invaluable.

He has already conquered what holds us down. We can receive the victory because He has already won the battle. But we have to appeal to God for help, allow others to walk beside us and share our pain, and release our burdens to Jesus, who will take our turmoil and replace it with His rest.

My prayer for you today:

“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13 NASB1995

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