"There"

 They’re standing right beside you,

In the grocery check-out line,

You don’t know what they’re feelin’,

‘Cause outwardly they’re fine.

But inside there’s a nightmare,

A heart that’s broke in two,

And if you listen carefully,

The Spirit might tell you.

They’re on the elevator,

They’re at the traffic light,

They’re horseback at the rodeo,

On the outside look all right.

But they’re going through a hard time,

They don’t talk much about,

They’ve learned to hold it all inside,

They seldom let it out.

But they need someone to love ‘em,

In what they’re going through,

And we should be available,

To be the ones, it’s true.

God says He will use us,

To give encouragement,

In fact the one beside you,

Might just be who He sent,

For you to give a kind word,

Or maybe a short prayer,

Could be just a smiling face,

Is why God put you there.

A lifetime yet of moments,

God plans and waits to fill,

To help somebody find Him,

And learn to do His will.

But only if we’re willing,

To be the ones, you see,

That aren’t in such a hurry,

To where we need to be.

Lord, help us to see them,

Use us, Lord, each time,

To spread your lovingkindness,

In this life’s uphill climb.

“Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ…” (Galatians 6:2, NLT)

The law of Christ, as Paul names it, is to love others the way Jesus loves us. And one of the most important ways this happens is when we actually lighten another person’s burden by bearing it with them. It makes a huge difference. People fight silent, desperate battles all the time that others don’t even know about. We can’t solve every problem, but we can be there for them. God will use us to bring comfort and relief, but only if we are available and willing to be used.

Lord, we pray you will use us to bear the burdens of others, in Jesus’ name.

Art by Jack Sorenson, jacksorensonfineart.com. Used by permission. Thanks, Jack, and God bless you.