PROBLEM SHARING

PROBLEM SHARING

Gal. 6:2 Share each other's troubles and problems, and in this way obey the law of Christ.  NLT

      We are to share our troubles and problems, not to keep them to ourselves. There are a lot of good reasons why this is necessary. The more we keep our problems to ourselves, the more isolated we become from intimate fellowship with other believers and God. Keeping everything in does nothing but weigh us down and wear us out. Without an outlet, our troubles can give us headaches and ulcers. We can become depressed and lose our sense of life being something worth living for. We can easily develop a mindset that life is a negative thing instead of a positive one. We can revert to blaming God for our troubles instead of seeking Him out for fellowship, worship, and help.

      When we go into our self-imposed shells, we deprive others of the joy of drawing near to our hearts, taking our hands and walking with us through our difficulties. We deprive them of being a blessing to us and growing in their own fellowship with the Lord.

       Sharing is a good thing, it is the way of Christ. You cannot have the love of Christ at work in you without a giving spirit. We not only are to share the good things of life, but we are to share the bad things as well.

      However, a word of caution is necessary. Be discerning with whom you share your troubles with. Not everyone is mature enough to handle what you need to share. You must be certain that you can trust those you share with to keep matters confidential and to be able to give godly counsel. If you don't want the whole world (or church) to know what's wrong with you, don't put matters into the hands of those who can't protect your heart.

      Everyone needs someone to share their inner self with. Whether it be your spouse, a trusted friend, your pastor, a family member, or a counselor, we all need to talk about issues we face in life. Don't keep it in. If you do, the space your troubles and problems take robs you of the space Christ should have in your heart. If you are troubled today, seek out someone who can come alongside you and help you. You will be glad you did.