Friends... Today I am deeply grieved over the state of our society as exemplified by a post and the ensuing comments in a secular Facebook group I'm part of. The story? A mom needed help getting her 8yo son to school. She thought to ask a neighbor in a text, but the neighbor did not respond and she was angry about that. But the original situation isn't what grieved me the most. What grieved me was the sheer volume of comments saying this mom should never have asked for help, that that was entitled of her, and deeply offensive. One person even said, "You're the one that decided to have kids. You figure it out."

Sisters, I could not have been more shocked.

One thing the Lord has been impressing upon my heart in the last few years is the way relationship within the church is one of the ways we reflect Christ. Not just that we're more civil to each other. But that there is real, genuine love there. That our unity in our love for the Lord Christ surpasses all other differences, and actually softens us to one another and binds us together.

I hope this describes the body of believers you are a part of. And if it doesn't, or if you don't have a body of believers, please, seek one out with prayer. You were not meant to walk this road alone. We were made for relationship with Jesus, yes, and we can be thankful for the times when it is he alone who carries us. But we were made for real, physical community with each other as well, which we will experience fully when we are remade, and a church on earth should give a blessed foretaste of that.

If you have been hurt by a church or professing believers in the past, grieve. Grieve it deeply, because, sisters, this is not how it should be, nor was it ever meant to be.

There is so much more I could say, so many conversations to be had. But I think this small bit will put my heart to rest tonight.

"By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." John 13:35

"For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others." Romans 12:4-5

"May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." Romans 15:5-6

"Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind." 1 Peter 3:8

"Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you." 2 Corinthians 13:11

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