Hurting on the Inside

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

I needed to chop an onion as I prepared dinner the other day. From the outside, it looked like a normal, fresh onion, but when I cut it open… yikes! I found it was rotten on the inside. It wasn’t a pleasant experience. There was no salvaging this onion!

This was a simple reminder to me about life. It’s hard to tell from looking at someone what’s going on internally. It can be extremely difficult to see from appearances whether or not someone is hurting. Most people do a pretty good job of looking as though everything is going okay in their lives. Asking someone, “How are you?” is largely a form of greeting in today’s culture, just as the reply, “I’m fine” is also. I’m convinced that most people don’t really want to know how someone is (especially if the answer is anything other than “fine” or “good”) and probably just as few people really want to share on a deep level with those they only know casually.

The reality, however, is that many people are hurting. As Christ-followers, it’s our responsibility to look beyond appearances, come alongside the people in our lives, and carry each other’s burdens. It’s our duty to provide care, support, and encouragement for those around us. Jesus commands us to love our neighbors as we love ourselves.

How do we see what’s going on in someone else’s life? Primarily, we need to strengthen and deepen relationships with others in our lives, in order to look beyond appearances. This, without question, takes an investment of time, attention, and energy. Frankly, it’s easier to keep relationships shallow. But, that’s not what God calls us to do. We are designed to be salt and light to those around us. Salt needs to penetrate whatever it seasons and preserves to do its work. Light interacts with darkness in order to dispel it. Bearing one another’s burdens means investing in people to be able to determine what burdens them so that we can begin to make those burdens lighter.

Today, I am certain that there is someone in your world who is hurting. In Jesus’ name, find a way to encourage, support, and bring healing to this person’s life!

GOING DEEPER:
1. How well do you know what is going on in the lives of your closest relatives and friends? How would you know if one of them were really struggling with life issues?

2. Is there someone in your life that you know could use help in carrying the burden they bear? What specific action can you take this week to help this person?

FURTHER READING:
Matthew 5:13-16; Luke 10:25-37; James 2:8

Help us reach the next generation of families

Donate
Back to Top

Jim Liebelt

Jim is Senior Writer, Editor and Researcher for HomeWord. Jim has 40 years of experience as a youth and family ministry specialist, having served over the years as a pastor, author, editor, consultant, mentor, trainer, college instructor, and speaker. Jim’s HomeWord Culture Blog also appears on Crosswalk.com. Jim and his wife Jenny live in Quincy, MA.

  • About HomeWord

    HomeWord helps families succeed by creating Biblical resources that build strong marriages, confident parents, empowered kids and healthy leaders. Founded by Jim Burns, HomeWord seeks to advance the work of God in the world by educating, equipping, and encouraging parents and churches. Learn More »

  • Support Our Mission

    HomeWord is non-profit, donor supported ministry. If you would like to partner with HomeWord in our effort to help more parents and families you can make a donation. Your investment will allow us to expand this ministry by offering more resources to families and churches in need.

  • Contact Information

    • HomeWord
      PO Box 1600
      San Juan Capistrano, CA
      92693

    • Send us an email

    • 800-397-9725
      (M-F: 8:30am-5pm PST)

Close