Galatians 6:1-2 (ESV)

“Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, let you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”

Many times, we go through life bearing our own burdens. Whether it is depression, sorrow, frustration or anxiety. Often, we feel like we are the only one who understands. We feel like no one can help us. We get stuck in a place where our burdens are all that we see and all that is in front of us. We get so focused on them, we lose sight of what’s going on.

This is not the way God created us to be. We are not islands in the sea of life or dust in the wind. We are designed with a purpose. That purpose is to bear each other’s burdens. That is what Paul is saying to the church in Galatia. The Galatian church had an issue. That issue was false teachers coming into the church. This caused many Christians to start leaving the faith.

This comes at the end of the book where Paul is encouraging the believers to stay strong in their faith. Notice, Paul does not say “make sure you are keeping yourself accountable” or “pull yourself up.” Rather, he is telling the Christians at Galatia to bear their burdens together.

We are not alone in our walk with Christ. When we are struggling with sin or doubt, we need to surround ourselves with fellow believers. This is not so we can have a pity party or to complain. Rather, it is so we can get godly advice from godly men and women. It is so we have people praying for us and encouraging us to live for Christ. This is why Christ established the Church. It is so that we can be held accountable when we sin, encouraged when we are sad, calmed when we are anxious and helped when we are frustrated.

This week, trust in God’s plan in the church. You are not alone. You do not have to suffer without hope. Surround yourself with godly men and women and they will help you bear your burdens.