Tag: mental-health

Just Be There: The Power of Presence in a Friend’s Tough Season

Sometimes, the best thing we can do for a friend or loved one who’s hurting isn’t to offer advice or fix the problem—it’s simply to be there.

We’ve all been there at some point: a friend is going through something heavy—loss, uncertainty, a hard decision, or just feeling overwhelmed by life. It’s tempting to want to jump in and “solve it” or offer the perfect words. But more often than not, what they really need is someone who’s willing to sit in the mess with them, listen without judgment, and help them find some light in the fog.

There’s something deeply comforting about having a steady presence beside you when everything feels unsteady.

In the book of Job, after Job loses nearly everything, his friends come to him. For the first seven days, they don’t say a word. “They sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights. No one said a word to him because they saw how great his suffering was” (Job 2:13, NIV). Say what you will about what they did after, but in those first seven days—they got it right. They just showed up.

Being a faithful friend isn’t about having all the answers. Sometimes it’s just about creating space—letting someone talk things out, ask the hard questions, or even sit in silence. It’s about helping them see that they’re not alone and that there’s hope, even if they can’t see it yet.

Proverbs 17:17 reminds us, “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.” When someone’s walking through adversity, we’re called to walk with them—not ahead of them, dragging them forward, and not behind, pushing them—but with them.

And sometimes, that kind of presence opens the door for God to bring peace, clarity, and even new direction. Galatians 6:2 encourages us to “carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” What a powerful reminder that just being there for someone is a deeply spiritual act.

So if someone you know is going through a rough time, don’t worry about the perfect words. Bring a calm presence, and maybe a cup of coffee. That might be the most Christ-like thing you do in that moment.

Questions:

How does Job’s story challenge the way we normally respond to others in pain?

Why do we often feel pressure to “do something” when a friend is hurting, instead of simply being there?

What does it mean to you personally to “carry someone’s burden” like Galatians 6:2 says?

What might God be teaching us when He calls us to simply sit with someone in their suffering instead of “fixing” it?

Fit for Heaven: How Community Lifts Spirits and Health

The Christian call to community is not just a call to fellowship and to being socially active with each other. It’s a divine invitation to participate in a transformation process (both helping others transform and being open to transforming ourselves).

While community is not just about sharing each other’s burdens, that is an important part of it. This is reflected in Galatians 6:2, “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ.” This verse underscores the principle that our growth and fulfillment as believers are somewhat dependent on how engaged we are in a healthy community.

The Role of Intentional Community in Spiritual Transformation

True community extends beyond social gatherings; it involves a real commitment to support each other in tough times. This support fosters a sense of belonging and provides a supportive environment for personal and spiritual growth.

The intentional pursuit of community helps us model Christ’s love in our interactions and, in doing so, we undertake God’s work directly. Ephesians 2:10 says “As Christ’s hands and feet, we participate in these good works, walking the path laid out for us.”

And there are many benefits to remaining in a genuine community. Many studies reveal that remaining connected in community has very positive impacts on longevity, quality of life, and physical health. While there is always room for improvement, one of our group’s goals is to encourage men to be authentic so we can receive these and other benefits.

And when we talk about Community, we should also consider that word in the context of engaging the community in service and outreach activities. Building on the ideas above, serving together not only positively impacts the wider community but also strengthens the bonds among participants, fostering a shared sense of purpose.

By emphasizing the benefits of bearing each other’s burdens and of intentional community involvement, it invites individuals to participate actively in a powerful transformational process. Having said all of that, it’s still a challenge for most men to welcome vulnerability and close relationships. That’s a topic, among others, that we’ll cover in these questions.

  1. Before we can achieve the benefits mentioned above, we need to be vulnerable and also welcome the same from others? Why is this tough for most men? Is it possibly because vulnerability can be seen as weakness?
  2. Do you feel that sometimes when a conversation among men starts getting too personal, someone will do something to keep it from going any deeper – humor, change of subject, or start an argument, for example?
  3. Related to question #2, if we don’t allow conversations to go deeper, what are some benefits we might be losing?
  4. What role does service play in the life of our community, and how can it enhance our sense of purpose and connectedness to each other?
  5. How does participating in an intentional community transform your personal faith journey?