What if “standing strong” was your greatest weakness?
For even when we came into Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were afflicted at every turn–fighting without and fear within. But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, and not only by his coming but also by the comfort with which he was comforted by you, as he told us of your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced still more.” -2 Corinthians 7:5-7
How encouraging to know that even a great man of God like the Apostle Paul had struggles and seasons of fear. How validating to know that opposition is normal in the Christian life and that fear comes after the best of us.
Here’s what Paul knows, though, and what can become a huge key to our freedom. God uses our admission of vulnerability as a doorway through which He sends people to let us know we’re not alone.
The religious spirit takes a “just me and Jesus” attitude, partly out of pride, and partly out of the fear of being judged for not having it all together.
“I’m just trusting God” can sometimes be merely the Christian way of saying “I can handle it, so leave me alone.”
How good is our Father, then, that He would continue to send people to break down our walls of self-imposed isolation and step in to our hurt so we can walk out of it together!
Christian community doesn’t promise all the answers and understanding. It gives us the freedom of knowing we don’t have to struggle alone.