Lift Each Other Up
“Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up.” Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
READ:
Grief has a way of isolating. Grief wants you to think you are alone. Grief wants you to believe you are the only one who feels the way you do. But God did not create us to be alone—even in our grief. Our time of grieving is the most important time to be in the company of others. We need others to gently help lift us out of the despair of our grief. We need others to say, “I know. I understand. I’m here for you.” Sometimes we need others who have gone before us to help show us the way.
When my son died, there was a lady who quietly, gently let me know she also lost a child about 10 years before and was available to talk. I didn’t have a support group, and without her to confirm my feelings were valid and “normal” I would have been lost. She reminded me of God’s character and of His faithfulness—regardless of the situation.
Predatory animals often attack the weak member of a herd or pack. They prey on the ones isolated from the group because it is easier for them to attack and kill a single animal than to take on the whole group.
The enemy of our souls, Satan, is the same way. When we are isolated, he whispers lies to us. He tells us that no one else understands us, that God doesn’t love us or care about our babies. If we don’t have people around us to remind us of the truth of God’s Word, we will believe these lies.
Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken. Ecclesiastes 4:12
The Lord is the third strand in the cord. We, as Hope Mommies, need other people and the Lord to stay strong in our faith and hope. Dear Mama, I encourage you to lean into the opportunities Hope Mommies offers and to link arms and hearts with others who know your pain.
REFLECT:
What do the following verses teach us about the importance of community?
- Matthew 18:20
- Hebrews 10:24-25
- Romans 12:15
JOURNAL
Spend some time reflecting on Ecclesiastes 4:9-12. Who are the “cords” in your strand? Write a prayer to God, thanking Him for His faithful nearness to you in your grief and asking Him to give you courage to press into the community surrounding you or to seek out community where it is lacking.
- Shelly
Hope Mom to Zachary Robert
Shelly D. Templin is an author, speaker and blogger that shares a message of hope—with humor. She has three daughters, a son-in-law, and a granddaughter. Shelly lives in Texas with her husband, Jack, of 29 years and their two dogs.
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