Helping Others Carry Their Load

Paul shared two verses in Galatians 6 that I believe are key for global workers to living in good health.

• "Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”  Galatians 6:2

and

• “For each will have to bear his own load.”  Galatians 6:5

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There are times in life when the burden we carry is too heavy for us. We need help. It is not weakness but a strength to ask someone to come alongside of you and help you carry the load.

Your load gets too heavy to carry when:

• a life event happens that causes trauma

Things happen to us that are too heavy to carry by ourselves. A bad medical report, an issue in our children, a government event in the country we live in, or persecution are among the traumatic events global workers can encounter. During those times reach out and ask for help.

• another time when your loads gets too heavy to carry is what I call the accumulative effect. 

It is not one event but the stacking of multiple events that become heavy. You can get overwhelmed and unable to go forward in life. It is not so much cultural shock as it is cultural stress. Things mount up in your life. When this happens to you, reach out. Seek help. 

• Be a person that people feel safe to reach out to.

Paul said that when we help carry someone else’s burden we fulfill the law of Christ. What does that mean? It means that when help carry someone else’s burden when they cannot carry it alone you exhibit your love for God and your love for you neighbor. You fulfill the law

The first thing Paul teaches us about member care is there are times when life is too heavy to walk alone. We need the help of others.

• Who needs your help right now?
• If you need help, who can you reach out to?
• How could you help someone to carry their load?
• What resources could you recommend?

If you need help the member care office is here for you. You can reach out to Cathy and me. We would love to pray with you, listen to you, help you process what you are going through. If you need a professional counselor, contact Lucy Donaldson at lmdonaldson@ag.org. She will give you a referral. She has confidentiality except in cases of danger to self or danger to others. You can trust her.