Be Spiritually Strong Part III

For the last three weeks, I’ve been sharing ideas about how to be spiritually stronger. On my Facebook page, I asked you to share your ideas. And you did! Music seems to be a big one. And music paired with prayer and scripture is down right powerful!  Thank you for sharing. Be sure to share again this week either in the comments below or on Facebook. I want to know what you do to be spiritually stronger? You never know, you might see your ideas in next week’s blog.

On Friday, as I walked into my prayer group, I felt spiritually weak. I realized a heaviness had descended upon me. It was strange. I had one of the most exciting weeks since I published my book, The Me Disease. What was going on?

Earlier in the week, my husband and I had been interviewed for a segment on Marriage SoWell on  Love and Faith radio station. That was so much fun and my husband is a natural. (More details on that later.) God keeps pushing us out of our comfort zones and showing us little slivers of our future. I also began recording my audio book this week. We are in the midst of a glorious unfolding and it is exciting!

Yet, as I walked into prayer group that morning, I was weighed down by a burden. This journey has been challenging at times and I have learned so many lessons. But on this day, I wondered how I could possibly could go on. However, God continues to speak to us, confirming our path. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy. I think God is growing us and asking us to trust Him completely.

On this day, I tried to pretend everything was okay. But the look on my face and the tears in my eyes told the real story. How could I pray for others when all I needed was someone to pray for me? Could I be authentic enough to confess my struggles? It’s like I’m programmed to always be “good” whether I am or not.

As one friend approached, it was time to stretch my spiritual muscles. I told her my struggles and asked for prayer. The group quickly gathered around, praying  prayers and scriptures and shared songs. By the end, all that heaviness had lifted. I felt renewed and revived. Ready to face the day. Funny how people praying for you changes your situation, even your perspective.

There is strength in our relationships and power in our vulnerability. It is important to be able to confess our fears to one another, no matter what they are and name our struggles. In doing so, I let my prayer group in. And they mysteriously took my burden from me. Scripture talks about this a lot.

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

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 says, “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. ¹⁰ For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!”

Matthew 18:20 says, “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

It’s okay to not be okay. But what is better is to be able to admit that to a friend. This is when it gets real. And in that authenticity, God is there, growing us and developing us, making us spiritually stronger. I would encourage you to push passed your discomfort and be vulnerable enough to admit your struggles. We all have something we struggle with. Find a friend or a group of friends that will carry your burden, pray for you and pray scripture over you. I think you will be amazed at how God will grow you, making you spiritually stronger.

Let us pray:

Father God, thank you that often you use our struggles to grow us. Help us to be vulnerable enough to admit those struggles. Bring people into our path that will graciously walk beside us, carrying our burdens and encouraging us to go on. In Jesus Name, Amen. -M