In the Wake of Church Hurt…You Need the Church
“I hope our church will be a place where you guys can heal.” The gentle words of our new pastor fell upon my heart like a soft blanket, adding a little comfort to a time of suffering. For the first time in months, I began to hope for a future with a new church. An inkling of belief that we might find community again lit up in my heart. But my fear of getting hurt—no, more than that, trampled—by those called to shepherd me remained a close companion. Spiritual abuse is destructive, its scars long-lasting.” In the Wake of Church Hurt…You Need the Church by Brittany Allen
How to Bear Burdens Without Being Crushed
“Galatians 6:2 commands believers to “bear one another’s burdens.” But how, practically, can we bear the burdens of others without being crushed by them? Over the years, I’ve had to learn to distinguish between what is my responsibility and what is the responsibility of another person. While I am responsible to others as a sister in Christ, I am not responsible for them. I am not someone’s Savior, Holy Spirit, or parent, and I do not need to function as though these are my roles. As you consider how to bear burdens without being buried by them, here are three lessons I’ve learned the hard way.” How to Bear Burdens Without Being Crushed by Ashley Chesnut
How Can You Comfort Others Amidst Your Own Pain?
“Comfort is meant to be transactional. Just like the gospel isn’t meant to stop with us, the comfort of Christ is meant to be poured into us and then through us. The problem, however, is that it’s awfully tempting to sit and wait until we feel better before we’re willing to step into the mess of other people’s lives. And when we do, we miss out on the beautiful reality that the comfort of Christ often comes as we speak the truth of God’s comfort out loud to others and spur one another on.” How Can You Comfort Others Amidst Your Own Pain? by Sarah Walton
Shame: How God Uses Our Weakness to Show His Strength
““Shame on you!” I heard this phrase many times growing up in the 80s. It became a common way for adults to address children’s misbehavior. But what weight do these words actually carry? Shame. On you. Despite hearing the word “shame” frequently, I lived many years without understanding what it really was and how it impacted me. Now as a mom and a pastor’s wife, I want to be able to spot shame and its harmful effects in and around me. I want to link arms with other women as we “put off” shame as part of the old self and instead “put on” the freedom, joy, and security that Jesus has for us (Eph. 4:22–24)! ” Shame: How God Uses Our Weakness to Show His Strength by Myra Dempsey