Category: Story

It’s Time to Grow | Walk WITH Others — Week 1

“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.” — Ecclesiastes 4:9–10 (NIV)

Somewhere along the way, I think many of us have convinced ourselves that being strong means being independent. We tell ourselves, I’ve got this. I can handle it. I don’t want to bother anyone. I’ll figure it out. And sometimes we do. But what happens when we can’t?

What happens when life becomes heavier than we expected? When the diagnosis comes, the relationship ends, someone we love dies, or we’re simply exhausted from trying to hold everything together?

I’ve learned through my own life that some seasons we simply cannot do alone. And perhaps we were never supposed to.

Years ago, my sister Sara wrote a blog called Community Life. She opened with a thought that has stayed with me.

“The more I think I am able to do something on my own, by my own power and by my own strength, the less I am able to achieve.”

Sara understood something that many of us spend a lifetime learning. Life isn’t just about what we can accomplish, how strong we can become, or how well we can manage everything around us. It’s about our relationship with God and the people He places in our lives.

Sara went on to write:

“It’s not about me creating my best life… it’s about me living the best life God needs me to for a community of people.”

I love that perspective. Because when we begin to understand that life isn’t all about us, something changes. We begin to see people differently. We become more aware of their needs, their struggles, their stories, and the opportunities God gives us to make a difference. And we begin to understand that sometimes we’re the ones who need someone else.

One of my favorite parts of Sara’s writing was her ability to take a deep spiritual truth and explain it in a way that made you smile. In her blog post Community Life, she compared life to a road trip.

She talked about how easy it is to think we’re driving and God is simply along for moral support. But she believed it was supposed to be the other way around. God was the one driving, reading the map, and choosing the turns.

Our responsibility was to get in the car, trust Him with the journey, and choose our attitude along the way. And then she added something that made me laugh.Sometimes she didn’t particularly enjoy the scenery God chose. Or the traveling music. Or even the companions He picked up along the way!

Can you relate?

Sometimes the people God places in our lives aren’t necessarily the people we would have chosen. Sometimes relationships require patience, forgiveness, understanding, and grace. Sometimes the journey takes us places we never wanted to go.

But Sara recognized that when she stopped focusing so much on herself and started paying attention to the people traveling beside her, she began to see things differently. Maybe that person needed someone to listen. Maybe they needed a little encouragement. Maybe God had placed them together for a reason neither one could see yet.

What if we’re so focused on getting where we want to go that we’re missing the people God has placed beside us?

I have experienced this truth in some very personal ways. When we lost my dad, when Sara died, when I walked through divorce, and later when I faced breast cancer, there were moments when I felt overwhelmed by what was happening around me. There were things I couldn’t fix. Questions I couldn’t answer. And circumstances I certainly couldn’t control.

I had to learn that trusting God didn’t mean I had to pretend everything was okay. And being strong didn’t mean I had to do everything myself.

During cancer treatment, there were days when I was physically and emotionally exhausted. Days when another treatment meant another round of feeling sick, tired, and uncomfortable. I couldn’t simply push through everything by determination alone. And that’s when the people around me became such an incredible blessing.

Some offered prayers. Some provided practical help. Some checked in. And some sent unexpected cards with a little piece of encouragement tucked inside. I still remember how meaningful those cards were, especially when they came from people I didn’t even know.

They didn’t take away the cancer. They didn’t make the treatments easier physically. But they reminded me that I wasn’t forgotten. That someone cared. That I wasn’t walking alone. And sometimes, that’s exactly what we need.

I think one of the hardest lessons for many of us is learning how to receive help. We love being the person who encourages others. We enjoy being dependable, helpful, and strong. But when we’re the ones who need encouragement? That’s different.

We don’t want to inconvenience anyone. We don’t want to appear weak. We don’t want to become a burden. Yet Scripture reminds us to carry one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2). And sometimes that means allowing someone else to help carry ours.

I watched this play out in such a beautiful way through my sister Sara’s life. Because of her illness, Sara spent years homebound. There were so many things she could no longer do for herself, and she had to depend on others in ways she never would have chosen. But something remarkable happened.

Through her blog, Sara developed an incredible community of people, many of whom she had never met in person. These weren’t simply people reading her words. They became friends. They became encouragers. They became a community that genuinely cared for one another.

At one point, members of her online community even organized a rotating sign-up list to send Sara packages of things she needed for everyday living. Every so often, a box would arrive at her door. Sometimes it contained practical essentials like soap, shampoo, or toothpaste. Other times, someone would tuck in candy, essential oils, or a little surprise just to brighten her day.

Can you imagine?

People who had never even met her were finding ways to make sure she was cared for. And here’s what I love about that story. While those people were sending Sara packages and helping meet her physical needs, Sara was giving them something they needed, too.

Through her writing, her honesty, her encouragement, and her faith, she made people feel seen and valued. She was fully present in her relationships. Even when she was the one struggling physically, she had a way of turning the conversation toward someone else.

How were they doing? What was happening in their lives? What could she do to encourage them?

After Sara died, so many people wrote about the impact she had made on their lives. One blogger shared that Sara had inspired her to choose Joy as her focus word for an entire year. Through Sara, she had discovered new resources that helped deepen her practice of gratitude.

Another beautiful thought in that remembrance came through a quotation from Albert Schweitzer about how another person’s spark can rekindle our light.

Isn’t that what community is supposed to look like?

Sometimes we’re the ones whose light feels dim, and someone else comes alongside us with encouragement, hope, or a simple reminder that we’re not alone. And sometimes we’re the ones God uses to help rekindle that light in someone else.

Sara couldn’t leave her home to serve others in the traditional ways we often think about. But that didn’t stop her from loving people. And the people who loved Sara couldn’t take away her illness or change her circumstances. But they could remind her that she mattered.

They couldn’t fix everything for one another. But they could make sure no one had to walk alone. That’s community. That’s what it looks like to carry one another’s burdens. And that’s a beautiful picture of what God intended when He created us to walk together.

Ecclesiastes 4:9–10 reminds us that two are better than one. Not because life suddenly becomes easy when we have someone beside us. But because when one falls, another can help them up. And we all fall sometimes. We all experience discouragement, disappointment, fear, uncertainty, or exhaustion.

There are times when our faith feels strong and we can encourage someone else. And there are times when our own faith feels shaky and we need someone to remind us of what is true. That’s one of the beautiful things about walking with others. We don’t all have to be strong at the same time.

We simply need to be willing to walk together.

Throughout our It’s Time to Grow journey, we’ve been learning what it means to move from simply believing in Jesus to actually living our faith.

We’ve talked about walking WITH Him, growing AS we walk, walking THROUGH difficult seasons, and learning to walk LIKE Him. But there’s another important part of our journey.

Walking WITH Others.

Our relationship with Jesus was never intended to stop with us. As we grow closer to Him, we should also become more aware of the people around us. More willing to encourage. More willing to listen. More willing to make room. And yes, more willing to let others walk beside us when we need them.

This week, I want to encourage you to think about the people God has placed in your life. Who might need a listening ear? Who could use a little encouragement? Who might be quietly struggling and hoping someone notices?

And perhaps there’s another question worth asking. Have you been trying to walk through something alone when God has already placed people around you who would love to help?

You don’t have to have all the answers. You don’t have to be strong every moment.

And you certainly don’t have to navigate every part of life on your own. We weren’t meant to walk alone.

Sara ended her Community Life blog with a beautiful reflection about surrendering the driver’s seat to God.

“I find the view to be much better from there.”

Maybe when we stop trying to control every part of the journey, we’ll begin to notice the beautiful people God has placed along the way. And maybe we’ll discover that the journey is better when we walk together.

Seek Jesus. Follow Faithfully. Abide Deeply. Experience Joy. Invite Others Along.

A Little Joy for Your Journey

This week, choose one simple way to practice walking with others. Reach out to someone you haven’t heard from in a while. Send a handwritten card. Invite someone for coffee. Offer to listen without trying to fix anything.

Or, if you’re the one walking through a difficult season, consider reaching out and letting someone know you could use a little encouragement.

Remember, community isn’t about having all the answers or always knowing what to say. Sometimes it’s simply about being present.

Let’s Pray

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for creating us for relationship with You and with one another. Forgive us for the times we try to carry everything on our own or become so focused on our own journey that we overlook the people You’ve placed beside us.

Help us recognize when someone needs encouragement, when someone needs a listening ear, and when we need to humble ourselves enough to accept help. Teach us to trust You with the direction of our lives and to love the people You bring along the way.

May our lives reflect Your love, and may we never forget that we weren’t meant to walk alone. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

With love and joy,

Laura

“Jesus wept.” — John 11:35

Two words. One of the shortest verses in the Bible. And yet, I think they teach us one of the most powerful lessons about loving people like Jesus. When Jesus arrived after Lazarus had died, Mary and Martha were grieving the loss of their brother. Here’s what I find so remarkable about this story…

Jesus knew what was coming. He knew He was going to raise Lazarus from the dead. He knew this wasn’t the end of the story. But when He saw their grief, He didn’t rush past their pain to get to the miracle.

He wept.

He met them right where they were. And I think there’s something we can learn from that about how we walk alongside people who are hurting. Because sometimes the most Christlike thing we can do isn’t to offer an answer. It’s simply to be present.

In 2017, I heard a word I never expected to hear.

Cancer. Triple-negative breast cancer.

Suddenly, life became a series of appointments, decisions, treatments, and questions I never imagined having to ask. There was chemotherapy, surgery, radiation, and all the physical and emotional challenges that came with them.

I write about much of this journey in my devotional, Still Choosing Joy: Lessons of Faith Through Cancer.

But one of the things I remember most isn’t just the treatments or the difficult days. It’s the people. The people who showed up. The people who prayed. The people who found ways to remind me I wasn’t walking through it alone. And sometimes, the people who made a difference didn’t even know me.

During my cancer journey, I started receiving cards from an out-of-town person I didn’t even know. Every now and then, another card would arrive with a little surprise tucked inside. Maybe a piece of gum. Some candy. Something small with a clever little saying that went along with it.

Nothing elaborate. Nothing expensive. But those cards meant so much to me. Think about that for a moment. Someone who didn’t even know me was taking time out of their day to think about me. To put together a little something. To send it in the mail. To bring a smile into what could be a very difficult day.

They couldn’t change my diagnosis. They couldn’t take away the effects of chemotherapy. They couldn’t make the uncertainty disappear. But they could remind me that someone cared. And they did.

I wonder how often we underestimate the impact of the little things. We think we need to do something big. Something impressive. Something that will really make a difference. But sometimes a simple card, a thoughtful text, a meal, or a small surprise is exactly what someone needs. Not because it changes their circumstances. But because it reminds them they haven’t been forgotten.

One of the things I learned during cancer was that having faith didn’t mean I never felt afraid. There were times when I felt strong. Times when I felt peaceful. Times when I was confident God was walking with me. And then another treatment day would arrive.

I remember walking through the doors of the cancer center, knowing what was ahead. I knew the treatment was necessary. I knew the people caring for me were doing everything they could to help me get well. But I also knew what the next several days could look like. The sickness. The exhaustion. The pain.

And sometimes I had to surrender my fears to God all over again. I think that’s something we need to understand when we’re walking alongside someone who is suffering. Just because someone has faith doesn’t mean they don’t hurt. Just because they trust God doesn’t mean they aren’t afraid. And just because they were doing well yesterday doesn’t mean today won’t be difficult.

Sometimes we unintentionally put pressure on people to be strong, stay positive, or demonstrate unwavering faith. But that’s not what Jesus modeled. He knew resurrection was coming. And still, He wept. We can have hope and still acknowledge the hurt.

Long before I heard the word cancer in my own life, I had already experienced what it was like to watch someone I loved walk through years of illness. My younger sister, Sara, lived with chronic illness that eventually left her homebound.

I watched her navigate pain, limitations, disappointment, and a life that looked very different from what she had once imagined. And I remember wishing I could change things for her.

I wanted her to feel better. I wanted her to be able to do the things the rest of us sometimes take for granted. I wanted to make things easier. But I couldn’t fix it. And that’s a difficult place to be when you love someone.

One of the things Sara taught me, though, was that even when we can’t change someone’s circumstances, we can still make a difference in their life. We can include them. We can listen. We can remember that they are so much more than their illness. We can continue inviting them into life, even when their participation might look different. And we can simply be there.

Years later, when I was diagnosed with breast cancer, I found myself on the other side. Now I was the one facing treatments, uncertainty, physical limitations, and days when I didn’t feel like myself.

And I began to understand some things in a different way.

I didn’t always need someone to cheer me up. I didn’t always need advice. And I certainly didn’t need to feel like I had to be strong for everyone around me. Sometimes I just needed to know someone cared. That I hadn’t been forgotten. That I was still me, even when cancer seemed to be taking over so much of my life.

I think walking on both sides has taught me something important. When someone is hurting, we don’t have to understand everything they’re experiencing to love them well. And we don’t have to fix their circumstances to make a difference.

Sometimes we just need to keep walking beside them. Maybe that’s part of what Jesus was showing us when He wept with Mary and Martha. He didn’t stand at a distance from their grief. He entered it. And perhaps that’s one of the most meaningful ways we can walk LIKE Him.

Having walked through cancer myself, and having walked alongside people I love through illness and loss, I’ve learned that our intentions may be good, but our words and actions don’t always land the way we hope. Sometimes we want so badly to make someone feel better that we rush to offer encouragement before we’ve really listened.

We say things like:

“Everything happens for a reason.”

“Just stay positive.”

“God won’t give you more than you can handle.”

Or we share a story about someone else who had cancer, sometimes without realizing that their experience may create even more fear. I understand why we do it. We don’t like seeing people hurt. We feel helpless. We want to say something that will make it better.

But here’s what I’ve learned. People don’t always need us to make them feel better. Sometimes they just need us to let them feel what they’re feeling.

Instead of trying to find the perfect words, what if we simply said:

“I’m so sorry you’re going through this.”

“I don’t know what to say, but I care about you.”

“You don’t have to be strong with me.”

“I’m here. I’ll walk with you.”

Sometimes listening is more loving than speaking. Sometimes sitting quietly beside someone is more comforting than offering advice. And sometimes a hug says more than any words ever could.

“Let me know if you need anything.” I know I’ve said those words many times. And I meant them. But when someone is overwhelmed by appointments, treatments, exhaustion, and uncertainty, figuring out what they need and then asking someone for help can feel like one more responsibility.

What if we made it easier?

Instead of saying, “Let me know if you need anything,” we could say:

“I’m making dinner on Thursday. Would it be helpful if I brought some over?”

“I’m heading to the grocery store. Can I pick up a few things for you?”

“I’d love to send you a card now and then. No need to respond.”

“Would you like company at your appointment, or would you prefer some quiet time?”

The important thing is to offer specific help while still respecting what the person wants and needs. Not everyone wants visitors. Not everyone wants to talk about their illness. And not everyone needs the same kind of support. Loving people well means paying attention to what they need, not just what we want to give.

Here’s another thing I’ve learned. When someone first receives a difficult diagnosis, there’s often an outpouring of love and support. People send cards. They bring meals. They pray. They check in. And those things are wonderful. But cancer doesn’t end after the initial diagnosis.

There are months of treatments. There are difficult days. There are moments of discouragement, uncertainty, and exhaustion. And even when treatment ends, the journey isn’t necessarily over.

Sometimes the emotional weight of everything you’ve been through takes time to process. That’s why continued encouragement matters. Remembering someone weeks or months later. Checking in after treatment ends. Sending another card. Asking how they’re really doing. Not assuming everything is back to normal simply because the medical treatments are finished.

One of the things that made those little cards I received so special was that they didn’t arrive just once. Now and then, another one would show up. Another reminder. Someone still cared.

Throughout our Walk LIKE Him series, we’ve been talking about what it means for our faith to become visible in our everyday lives. We’ve talked about being a living prayer. We’ve talked about letting the fruit of the Spirit show. We’ve talked about seeing people the way Jesus sees them. And now we’re talking about walking alongside them.

Because compassion isn’t just something we feel. It’s something we choose to demonstrate. Jesus didn’t simply teach people about love. He lived it. He noticed people. He listened. He touched those others avoided. He entered people’s suffering. And when Mary and Martha were grieving, He wept.

He showed us that loving someone doesn’t require us to have all the answers. It requires us to care enough to show up.

“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” — Galatians 6:2

We may not be able to carry someone’s entire burden. But perhaps we can help make it a little lighter.

As I think back on my cancer journey, I am reminded again of how God used people to encourage me. Some were family and friends. Some were people who prayed, helped, and walked beside me. And some were people I didn’t even know, sending little surprises through the mail.

I don’t know if those individuals realized the difference they were making. But I remember. And that’s something I hope we all carry with us.

You don’t have to be a counselor, a pastor, a medical professional, or someone with all the right words to make a difference. You just have to be willing to love. To notice. To reach out. To show up.

Maybe there’s someone in your life right now who is walking through cancer, grieving a loss, caring for a loved one, or facing a season they never expected. What could you do today to remind them they aren’t alone?

Send the card. Make the call. Drop off the meal. Offer the prayer. And don’t forget to check in again.

Because sometimes the smallest acts of kindness leave the most lasting impressions. And sometimes the most meaningful thing we can say is simply: “I can’t fix what you’re going through. But I’m here. And I’ll walk with you.”

That’s what it means to walk LIKE Him. And that’s one more way we can choose joy — by bringing a little of it into someone else’s difficult day.

A Moment to Reflect

• Is there someone in my life who is walking through a difficult season and could use some encouragement?
• Am I more focused on finding the right words or simply being present?
• What small act of kindness could I choose this week?
• How can I continue showing up for someone after the initial crisis has passed?

This week’s challenge: A Little Joy in the Mail

Choose one person who could use encouragement and send them a handwritten card. Include a favorite Scripture, a small surprise, or simply a few words to remind them they matter. Don’t worry about making it perfect. Just make it personal.

Because love doesn’t have to be extravagant to be extraordinary.

Seek Jesus. Follow Faithfully. Abide Deeply. Experience Joy. Invite Others Along.

With love and joy,

Laura