I have a friend who’s going through particularly tough times in his life, and as a concerned friend, it’s almost like watching a painful scene unfold before you in a movie. There’s nothing you can do about it. You can’t make the person snap out of their funk, or keep them from spiraling down. You can’t fix them, as much as you want to.

You feel helpless and powerless when you see that, and you can dangerously let the attachment bring you down, too. But that very feeling of helplessness and powerlessness can remind us that we are not the ones in control. God is.

While it’s futile for us to try and get out of the quicksand or tar pit on our own, we can do all things through Christ who strengthens and buoys us. He gives us the lifeline to get out of the pit we’re in. And if we’re the one supporting the one in the pit, then we can act as a channel and conduit for His love to help them out.

But we shouldn’t think that we alone have done anything to rescue or help anyone in our own strength, and certainly not for anything in return (payment, recognition, etc.), but that we were moved and powered by the Spirit to help another one of His children…to bring them to Him.

Hope is never gone as long as we’re keeping our eyes on the Lord. Whether you’re in the pit, or helping someone else out of it, come back to the basics: that God alone is our rock, our hope, and our redeemer. And when we do that, we will rise with Him!

Today’s soundtrack

“Love Them Like Jesus” by Casting Crowns reminds us that when we have no words or actions to help those in need, we are to bring the hurting and brokenhearted to Him.

Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed. -Proverbs 15:22 (NIV)

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. -1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV)

When life takes that unexpected turn and you’re left barely holding on, God often puts others around you who can help support you. His love is channeled through each of us, and we are conduits for His power and grace for each other and the world.

To start making our way through the difficulty, we need to stop isolating ourselves. It’s time to reach out.

If you’re having difficulty facing your past, today’s challenges, or your fears and worries about an uncertain future, first lay them all down at His feet in prayer. Surrender all your burdens to Him. If you don’t, they can consume or crush you. Call out to Jesus to carry and comfort you. He can handle everyone in the world at once!

Then, reach out to trusted brothers and sisters in Christ who share the same pursuit of Him. This can be friends, family, coworkers, and pastors and Christian counselors. It’s crucial that your friends partake in the same pursuit of God that you do, or else you will receive conflicting advice that may mean well, but ultimately doesn’t honor God in following it.

Despite what some well-meaning friends may say, God can definitely give you more than you can handle…alone, without Him. But He is always present to help you directly, and through a support network. Don’t do life alone. God is always with you, as are your faithful siblings in Christ.

Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. -Proverbs 27:17

Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other. -Ecclesiastes 4:9

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

Rich is the person who has a praying friend. -Janice Hughes

When you’re going through hard times, God is not only with you, but He also works through supportive siblings in Christ. God strengthens these siblings so they can give gentle reproof, accountability, sanity checks, sympathy, and powerful support in prayer.

How friends help you

Gentle reproof

True friends aren’t yes men who just tell you that it’s the person(s) you’re having issues with are totally to blame. Friends who are siblings in Christ will gently check you when you’re being worldly in word, thought, and/or seed.

Accountability

Likewise, godly friends will watch out for you by holding you accountable for doing the right thing. It’s far too easy to either strike back against being wronged, or allow wrongdoing to continue. Friends can ensure you’re walking the walk.

Sanity checks

“Am I crazy? Is this really happening? Am I contributing to this?” These are all questions that godly friends can help you understand and answer. They can even help you figure out if those questions are the right ones to ask.

Sympathy

Sometimes, you just need friends who can let you break down and let it out. Though we are to completely let the Lord handle our lives, our flesh will still creep into the picture, and we’ll start feeling the stress and pain. Friends can help you release that without judgment, so you can then surrender it again in prayer and travel light once more.

Supporting prayer

Prayer is crucial. With friends supporting you in prayer, you’re marshaling mighty forces of intercession. God hears our prayers and acts on them according to His will and timing.

Stay on the path!

Godly friends help one another in Christ to stay on a righteous path, and to keep the deceiver at bay, because Satan loves to chisel his way into a foothold when your emotions start ramping up.

Don’t go it alone. God gave you a support network. Use it, and do your part in it as well when your siblings are in need.

The LORD is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you, He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed. -Deuteronomy 31:8

I will go before you and make the rough places smooth; I will shatter the doors of bronze and cut through their iron bars. -Isaiah 45:2

Force multiplication is, in military terms, the idea that one or more factors can make a force more formidable than the same force would be without it. A force multiplier is the factor responsible for dramatically increasing the effectiveness of that force. In war, that could be morale, technology, weather, terrain, strategy, experience, etc.

In our lives as agents of light, we wage spiritual warfare each day, a war invisible to the unbelieving world. To aid in our fight, just as with hundreds of generations before us, we have the ultimate force multiplier: We have the Lord on our side. What’s amazing is that God is behind all of the force multiplicative advantages listed above…and more.

In every moment, God gives us supernatural strength when we have none. He gives us patience, wisdom, and grace when the world smashes every ounce we can muster. He is the limitless, unseen fount of power we can tap into if only we would stop trying to beat the world on its terms or our own.

So, don’t be discouraged. Don’t be dismayed. Don’t fear.

When you walk where God directs your steps, and you are faced with seemingly insurmountable odds, “insurmountable” is a worldly concept. The Lord made all and is greater than all. He is already waiting for you at the summit. The battle is already won, so go forth and plow through to His glory, because you have the ultimate force multiplier on your side.