"Carry One Another's Burdens"

Do you attend a support group for a problem you’re struggling with? Such groups are valuable if they lead to growth and are not merely sessions of re-hashing old grievances.

We get social support from friends and family in many ways. It may be:

• Coffee with a friend
• Game of pick-up basketball, racquetball, pickle ball (yes, there is such a thing)
• Book club
• Work or volunteer project
• Calls, texts, e-mails
• Visits to your hospital bed or waiting room

Social interaction is vital to our survival in a very brutal world. Treasure your groups of friends or family.


God’s Support Group

What would it be like to be a part of a support group made up of characters from the Bible? Imagine sitting in a circle in the basement of a drafty old church drinking terrible coffee from Styrofoam cups and sizing up the other members of the group:

Hmm. Who is that old guy with the beard and long stick in his hand? His name tag reads Moses. Wonder what his problem is?

And the young man with an eagerness about him? Timothy says his “Hi, my name is…..” sticker. Next to him is another old guy—A. Paul (the A stands for Apostle). They seem to be friends because Paul keeps chatting in Timothy’s ear. Quite a talker, that one. Timothy is attentive but I did see him roll his eyes once when Paul wasn’t looking.

Not many women in this group, other than the classy one with a regal appearance and good posture. She has two names on her tag:  Sarai – Sarah. There is an elderly woman with a wrinkled face. What did she endure to earn such a time-worn countenance? Her name is Jochabed and she must be important to Moses because he is very attentive, re-filling her coffee cup and adjusting her shawl.

The list could go on but you get the drift. The Bible is full of rich characters who relied on God. Wouldn’t it be terrific to select the character who suffered what we currently deal with and sit next to them for a one-on-one? We could ask how they stayed strong in their walk of faith.

That is precisely what we can do when we study people in the Bible. God teaches us through stories of ordinary folks who chose to follow him.

There are several good online resources to help us research Biblical characters:

www.universalteacher.org.uk/bible/biblepeople.htm

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_major_biblical_figures 
www.encinardemamre.com/en/People_and_characters_in_the_Bible.html

Also, the back of your favorite Bible, the one with pages, might have a good Subject Index that lists names, places, and topics.

Check out this list of issues and characters:

Physical, emotional tragedy - Job
Fear - Caleb, Joshua, Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, Daniel, the boy David
Depression - Elijah, King David
Sin & Remorse - David, Peter
Shady Past - Paul, woman at the well
Out of Comfort Zone/Inadequacy - Timothy, Moses
Difficult or Dangerous Task - Ananias, Esther, Mary
Sending Children off (Empty Nest) - Jochebed, Mary
Rebellious Children - David (Absalom), Prodigal Son & Waiting Father parable
Swinging Emotions - David & the Psalmists
Following others' Leadership - Sarah, Ruth
Worry - Jesus (Sermon on the Mount)

The search will benefit you and you’ll enjoy visiting with your new group of friends.

Hope the coffee’s fresh!