Before the crisis

A temptation, when you’re stressed out and at the breaking point, is to isolate yourself. You want say, "I don’t want anybody in my life. I’m stressed out." That’s a big mistake. When you are at your breaking point, when you are stressed to the limit, you need people in your life. You need people who will give you support, give you strength, and most of all give you perspective. When you’re stressed, you don’t think straight, you don’t see the whole picture, and you have a limited perspective. You need somebody else who can help you see the bigger picture. You need people when you’re at the breaking point.

It is one reason why being a part of the church family is so important. Some people come and attend but maybe never join the church family. You need to build those friendships with some godly Christians who know the Bible and who can pray for you when you can’t pray. Have you ever been in so much pain you couldn’t pray? Sure. Have you ever been so depressed you couldn’t pray? Probably. When you’re in that situation, you need some friends who can pray for you. When you can’t believe God because you’re so devastated, you need somebody to believe God for you, somebody to have faith when you have no faith, and somebody to have confidence when you’re full of doubt. A genuine Christian friend walks in when everybody else walks out.

 

Set up those kinds of relationships before the crisis

! When the storms come into your life and those hurricane winds sweep in is not the time to find friends or to get into a small group.

Galatians 6:2 "By helping each other with your troubles, you obey the law of Christ."

1 Thessalonians 5:11 "Encourage each other and give each other strength."

Never underestimate the power of just a little word of encouragement. You may need to go make a phone call this afternoon, or send a fax, or write a little note. It doesn’t have to be long – just a note of care, a note of encouragement because we all need to receive help from others.