DAY TEN

The humility of neediness.

Months ago, a friend called and was feeling the weight of my pain. She went on to say that life was going mostly like she wanted, and how easy it would be to feel guilt over that. She instead concluded that the reason she can be strong for me is because she is in a season of availability. And it was this vivid depiction of the Body of Christ. How sad it would be if every part of the Body was taxed and unable to support each other.

We must rest confidently in the way God has collectively patched together our seasons. The one living the easier season must not stay stuck in guilt nor ease, but instead be available to shoulder another’s pain. The one living the season of suffering must not stay stuck in bitterness nor despair, but instead be grateful for strong teammates. The strong one needs the weak as much as the weak one needs the strong.

It’s humbling to be the needy one. But it’s not ungodly. We’re all needy, even on our best day, whether we concede it or not. Grief sobers us to our utter dependency on Christ. It’s never been so clear.

I wonder if King David felt needy. We read much about his imperfectly faithful walk with God. From a young shepherd boy, to a mighty warrior, to the throne, two things remained: God’s hand on David and God’s people around David. Samuel, Jonathan, Jashobeam, Eleazar, Abishai, Benaiah, and on, and on, and I’m so glad I’m not pronouncing these.

The Bible goes as far to delineate many as David’s mighty men.

We’re told that “David became more and more powerful, because the LORD Almighty was with him.” (1 Chronicles 11:9 (NIV)).

I’ve been wanting to be the mighty one. I find myself looking for a trophy in my grief. I am not the mighty one; God is. And maybe God’s mighty hand is a mighty friend that keeps showing up in my pain.

We desperately want God to help us. The comforting presence of a friend is evidence that God has. We must accept His help. God loves to use His people to help His people.

“But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.”

1 Corinthians 12:24-26.

Prayer. Lord, I praise You for the strong one in my life.

Application. Today, I will tell the strong person in my life thank you. And if I don’t have a person to thank, I pray God sends me that person to help me.