We can't do this alone

Last week at Youth Quake we had the opportunity once again to see God stir in the hearts of our students and adults.  As we would gather for Youth Group Time around the fire students were encouraged to share what God had done in their life that day.  Students would confess, rejoice, cry, hurt, and heal.  It's an awesome moment to see these young lives be drawn near to God.  Jared, our leader, was quick to ask "who's going to be there for them?"  Students around the circle would raise their hands and pledge to help. The message they heard was that they can't do this alone.

I had a young man in my office this morning that is struggling in life.  Bad influences, bad decisions, and past hurts have left him in confusion.  My question for him was, "who is speaking truth into your life?"  At this point there is no one he is engaged in an intentional relationship with to help him through life.  His next step is to get in a group because he's quickly learning that he can't do this alone.

Leaders, understand that you carry out an important role.  You provide a place for people to come who have been trying to do life alone.  A place for couples to come who have been trying to make it alone.  They are struggling, hurting, and looking for help and healing.  By leading a group you provide a place.  You provide intentional relationships where tough questions can be asked and truth can be found.

Thank you leaders for leading!

Do you have a safety net?

Below is a devotional thought by Rick Warren on the importance of groups.  It's a good image to put in our minds that as leaders we're net builders and menders.  Creating communities of people who are there for one another.



Do you have a safety net?
by Rick Warren

 Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. 1 Peter 3:8 (NIV)

As a pastor, I see situations daily that nobody should ever have to go through alone. Nobody should ever have to wait in the hospital while a loved one is in life-or-death surgery. No woman should ever have to wait alone for the lab report on a problem pregnancy. Nobody should ever have to wait for news from a battlefield alone. Nobody should ever have to stand at the edge of an open grave alone. Nobody should ever have to spend the first night alone when their spouse has just walked out.

Life's tough times and tragedies are inevitable - each of us will face them. But we don't need to go through them alone. We need God's safety net to help hold us up through these difficult times.

What is God's safety net? It is a group of other believers - a handful of people who are really committed to you. We call this kind of group a community. Here's God's plan for community: "If one part suffers, every part suffers with it" (1 Corinthians 12:26 NIV). Community is God's answer to despair.

Romans 12:15 expresses a similar idea: "Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn" (NIV).

The first part of that verse is easy. When something good happens to someone, it's often easy to join in on the party.

But when someone is having a tough time, it can seem more difficult. But, really, it's simple. When you're going through a crisis, you don't want advice; you just want somebody to be there - to sit with you, hold your hand, put an arm around your shoulder, or cry with you.

As Paul tells us, "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up" (1 Thessalonians 5:11 NIV). Encouraging someone else doesn't always mean giving a pep talk or words of wisdom. Sometimes the best kind of encouragement is just sitting in silence - waiting and weeping with a friend.

Do you have a safety net - a group of fellow Christians you know you can count on in life's toughest times? If not, go out today and begin building those friendships. The hard times in life are inevitable, and only a fool would go into them unprepared.