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Sharing and Bearing

by Tina

Sharing burdens isn’t always easy. There are certain people in my life that I’m willing to share things with in detail, while others I may give a short variation of the same story. Some may even find me very closed off. My walls go up immediately. Trust has a lot to do with how much I’m willing to share. 

Not everyone will understand what I’m going through, so having someone who understands is another factor that affects my willingness. 

How laidback or overbearing a person is makes a difference as well. If I find someone to be pushy and they don’t give me any room to make the appropriate adjustments based on what I’m dealing with and how it lines up with what God wants for me, then I just won’t share. I’ll share with someone who listens and makes helpful suggestions instead. 

I can work with suggestions. Not everything will work for me, but I find myself filing those things away in my mind and pulling them back out again as I can use them.

Wise counsel and concern are always appreciated, especially when it comes from someone you know cares and just wants the very best for you. How we respond to those who share with us matters just as much as sharing does.

Sharing our burdens isn’t the only thing that needs to be learned. We also must learn to be trustworthy, kind, compassionate and gentle listeners.  

Assist One Another

“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” 

Galatians 6:2

“Sympathize with and assist each other, in all your weaknesses, grievances, trials. The apostle alludes to the custom of travellers, who, when too heavily laden with their baggage, relieve one another by bearing the burdens of the weak or fatigued, and in that manner show their good disposition toward each other; and so fulfil the law of Christ — Even that law of love, which he particularly and especially enjoins, terming it his new commandment, and making it the distinguishing mark of his disciples; and surely we may willingly receive that law from one who was himself such an unequalled example of love, and who with so gracious a sympathy bore our burdens of sorrow, and carried away the load of our guilt.” 

Benson Commentary 

(Photo credit goes to Pixabay.com user Free-Photos.)

21 thoughts on “Sharing and Bearing”

  1. We all need to find at least one person in life who you feel you can truly share and bear with. It makes such a huge difference when you find that. It’s never about finding someone with all the answers. That’s Gods area of expertise. And the answers that work the best are so often self generated not the ones others try to foist on others. God bless you Tina ❤️

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  2. Don’t worry,”In this you rejoice,though now for a little while,if necessary,you have been grieved by various trials,so that the tested genuineness of your faith- more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire- may be found to result in praise and glory and honour at the revelation of Jesus Christ.’ -James 1 Peter 1:6-7

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  3. Hey Tina….I hope all is well with you….I learned the following the very very very hard way….
    In my opinion…
    1.there is absolutely nobody who can share the burden….
    2.nobody really understands
    3. and everyone usually has an agenda….as in even people in the inner circle tend to give advice that will benefit them on some level as they rationalize it for your benefit in their heads.
    So….there’s just God then.😅😂🤗.
    But sometimes ….just sometimes some blessed people find some gems who really do give good counsel and share their burden the right way….maybe my views sound too pessimistic …😅🙃🤪🙈🤣…but I have come to a point where I do not expect a shred of understanding, slack or help from any human being ….I surrender to and trust God alone….not because I dont have people who care….I do have a loving family and caring friends….but they cant walk my walk and since they dont share my footwear, they just ……🤪🙈

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    1. Yes, your view does sound a bit pessimistic, Ruelha. 😀 That must have been your experience. I’m so sorry about that. But you’re so right that there’s God. When nobody else understands there is always God. It’s really nice when you find friends who understand, but it is definitely a very rare thing . Still, we can be compassionate, listen and try to be more understanding even if we don’t truly understand. You are also so right to depend on God. We are told to share and bear one another’s burdens, but our help ultimately comes from God, and nobody can walk in our shoes. Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts. God bless. ❤ ❤ ❤

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      1. I just read my earlier reply….I do sound like a negative psycho 🙈🤭😅🤣🙈🙆‍♀️🤗😉…what was I thinking ….lol…
        God bless you too Tina🎀🥰😍🥰😍🥰😍🥰😍🎀

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      2. 😂 Noooooo…. not a negative phycho, Ruelha. I just took your words to mean that you hadn’t had a great experience with people being there for you. You’re a sweet person. I hope you do find some people who are trustworthy people who you can share with and are willing to bear your burdens. It’s so nice to have those people in our lives.

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    1. Well…. we didn’t really do anything for Thanksgiving, so it was sort of a regular day. Normally it would have been shared with family. There will be other thanksgivings and more time with family in the future. For now, life is a little different. How are you doing? I bet you’re enjoying teaching. ☺

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  5. It is absolutely necessary to use discernment before sharing. Not everyone has our best interest in mind. I have a hard time sharing with most everybody. And I definitely agree with what you said about not sharing with overbearing people. It can be hard to find loving friends who will share each other’s burdens. It’s a blessing if we have those people in life. Blessings, my friend! ❤️

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  6. For me too trust plays a huge role in how much I share. I am a very private person and as such sharing is not the easiest thing for me. But we all need someone who listen, cares, prays for us and with us.
    Blessings 💙

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  7. A needed post and a treat to read. A friend sticks closer than a brother and is born for adversity. You have presented the importance of a biblical sharing from those who are being sanctified and found in Christ’s love, that not consider others’ interest not just their own. Keep the light on!

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  8. Your discussion takes me back to the beginning of teaching at my final school. The very first colleague I met was a blessing from high above. He helped me weather the storms of teaching in an urban middle school.

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