There is joy in the journey of life, but that does not imply ease.
Going through challenges alone can be hard. It’s easy to give up when no one is beside us. As a wise man once wrote, “Two are better than one. If either of them falls down, one can help the other up” (Ecclesiastes 4:9a,10 NIV).
Have you experienced this nugget of truth for yourself?
When you were emotionally hurting, did a listening ear or a hug offer comfort? When you were working through a difficult problem, did the voice of wise counsel offer new insight? When you were adjusting to overwhelming circumstances, did helping hands lighten your load?
You may have experienced this with your new year’s goal of exercise. When surrounded by other exercisers, you find motivation, encouragement, and camaraderie to finish strong through the pain and the temptation to quit.
Let’s apply this group benefit to the greater goal of spiritual training and exercising our faith!
Following Jesus means giving up our will and surrendering to him, daily. And that is not easy. God knew we would need help each step of the way.
In his great love for us, God provides many ways to help us persevere in our faith.
God gives us his written Word to direct us in his truth. “For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope” (Romans 15:4 ESV).
He gives us the Holy Spirit, who counsels us as we seek the Lord. “… the Spirit helps us in our weakness… the Spirit himself intercedes for us” (Romans 8:26 NIV).
God gives us the body of believers to come alongside each other and hold each other accountable. “And let us consider how we may spur one another on to love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together… but encouraging one another” (Hebrews 10:24-25 NIV).
He gives us family or friends to comfort and minister as Jesus did. “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2 ESV).
The apostle Paul sums this up well: “… if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion,” then have “the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind” (Philippians 2:1-2 NIV).
Have you already committed to a group of believers who hold each other accountable to growing in the ways of the Lord? Are you encouraging one another to be found faithful as a Christian? Are you coming alongside each other to work out the transformational love and power of Jesus?
If you’re still alone on your faith journey, make today the day you find a spiritual training partner!
Working through a Heart Training book with another believer or a small group is an effective way to put this into practice and exercise your faith!