True Community

This summer, the Lord has been reminding me of the importance of community in my walk with Christ. When you invite others into your inner circle and when you are open and vulnerable, you will receive the benefits of community. Of late, that has looked like the Holy Spirit holding up an honest mirror to my life and telling me to do less and to start saying no. The five people who are closest to me in my life, other than my sweet husband, all approached me over the last two months with the same message: Do less.

When my mentor first approached me with this message, it stung. “Did she not think that I could handle all of the things I had committed to?” I wondered. I even pushed back and reassured her that I was doing just fine. After all, at least once a week she encourages me by saying, “You can do hard things.” By the time the fifth friend lovingly smiled at me and gave me the same wise words, I knew the Spirit was at work. 

For several years, I have held the belief that if God has put something on my heart to do then he will give me the strength and the resources to do it, even if I have a lot on my plate already. When I feel God’s nudging I try hard to push myself to say yes. Give until it hurts and then give some more, has been a mantra of mine for some time. Never to earn my salvation but because I want to serve whole heartily as long as I have breath in my lungs. God refills my cup to overflowing every time. It never fails. He is faithful. AND He also calls us to Sabbath rest. 

Therein lies the struggle; this walk with Christ is nuanced and hard. I still believe all of the same things and also He calls me to rest. There is a balance here that is not one size fits all. I can not tell you what a proper balance would look like for you unless I was walking in your life with you.

Often I can’t even see what is too much for me. I need a mirror–or a handful of mirrors. I need my community. We are not called to walk this road alone. We need each other. 

Ephesians 4:15-16 (NIV)

Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

I pray you have women in your life who will sit with you, love you, and speak truth into your heart. I pray that God will give you an open heart and an open mind to receive their admonitions and encouragements humbly.