Galatians 6:2 — “Bear one another’s burdens.”
There’s a certain kind of weight we carry in this life that can't be measured in pounds or even lifted with just our hands. It’s the weight of worry, sorrow, disappointment, and fear. Sometimes it presses down so hard it’s difficult to breathe. And sometimes we don’t even realize we’re carrying it until someone else reaches in—gently, without fanfare—and lifts a little of it off our shoulders.
Paul’s words in Galatians 6:2 are clear: “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”That law, of course, is love. Not the greeting-card version of love, but the rolled-up-sleeves kind. The kind that shows up with food when the refrigerator is empty, that sits in silence when the grief is too deep for words, that sends a check when the rent is short or simply listens without judgment.
We weren’t designed to go it alone. The body of Christ—our body, together—is knit from vulnerability, trust, and a whole lot of showing up. We are one body, not a collection of self-sufficient parts. We need each other. That’s not weakness; that’s by God’s glorious design.
Sometimes we’re the ones bearing the weight. And if we’re honest, it can be hard to admit when we need help. But being part of a community means being willing to let others into the hard places of our lives. There’s courage in that kind of vulnerability. There’s grace in saying, “I can’t carry this alone.” And there’s blessing in letting someone else show up, hold us up, and walk beside us.
Other times, we’re the ones doing the lifting. It’s tempting to think we have to fix things or have the perfect words. But often, bearing a burden just means being present (that’s a gift!). Just being willing to step into someone else’s pain or need—not to solve it, but to share it. That’s love in action! That is what we are called to do.
None of us is immune to struggle. None of us is meant to live untouched by pain or by the pain of others. And each of us has something to offer, no matter how small it may seem. So whether you are the bearer or the sharer today, know this: in giving and receiving, in lifting and being lifted, we are living out the very heart of Christ.
Prayer for Today
God, let me walk slowly enough to notice who’s carrying something heavy. Let me step in and say, “Let me help you with that.” Let me also be willing to share my burdens openly, trusting in your one body of love. Amen.