“Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.” 1 Peter 3:8 (NIV)
As a pastor, I have seen so many situations 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 high-risk pregnancy. 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 is 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 doesn’t always mean giving a pep talk or words of wisdom. Sometimes the best kind of encouragement is just being present, sitting in silence, 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 be intentional about building those friendships. The hard times in life are inevitable, but you don’t have to go into them unprepared.
PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick
Talk It Over
What is the difference in being part of a Bible study and being part of a community?
Who is a part of your safety net? How do you build community with people and reach that level of commitment?
What are the practical ways you can provide someone with a safety net?
This devotional © 2023 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Life’s tough times and tragedies are inevitable. Each of us will face them—but we don’t need to go through them alone. Read more about building your safety net in today’s #DailyHope devotional.
Rick Warren Bio
Rick Warren is the founding pastor of Saddleback Church, one of America’s largest and most influential churches. Pastor Rick is the author of the New York Times bestseller The Purpose Driven Life. His book The Purpose Driven Church was named one of the 100 Christian books that changed the 20th century. Pastor Rick created The PEACE Plan to address the five global giants—spiritual emptiness, self-serving leadership, poverty, disease, and illiteracy—through the power of ordinary people in the local church. His Daily Hope broadcast and daily devotionals are offered around the world. You can listen to the broadcast or sign up for the free devotionals at PastorRick.com
Tags
40 Days of Community – 2023, Community, God’s Family, Dependence, Pain, Adversity, Friends, Crisis, Encouragement, 1 Peter 3, 1 Corinthians 12, Romans 12, 1 Thessalonians 5
Broadcast Series: 40 Days of Community – 2023
Sermon Series: 40 Days of Community
Sermon: 016201_Why We Need Each Other
