Are you willing to suffer with me?

That’s quite the ask, as we likely don’t know each other well, if at all. Yet it’s a critical one that I’m learning to ask myself as I start a new chapter in life’s journey- a deeper call to obedience.

To my knowledge, I’m not entering the spiritual nor literal equivalent of being fed by birds, slumbering with lions, or walking through a fiery furnace. I could be wrong. I call it a deeper call to obedience but it might just be better said “starting to obey”.

This is the call to simply engage with God more often, more frequently, more authentically.

I’ve become a little too accustomed to making myself seem okay because long ago, that was the only acceptable thing to do. I wasn’t allowed to cry without criticism or punishment. Nobody wrapped me in hugs and helped me calm down at the sight of my tears once I stopped being a toddler. I’ve been taken advantage of, I’ve been emotionally neglected, I’ve been alone, seemingly, for a lot of things…

Fear ruled me as I tried to fend for myself. I felt I had to calculate everything and be a thousand percent sure that I would not in any way fail. All while being concerned that anything I was building or starting wouldn’t profit soon enough (read: immediately). And now I’m gonna try to be obedient and joyful. I’m gonna lean on people more. I’m going to let wounds show and ask the questions I’ve been hiding. I’m gonna be asking for things (that’s wild for me).

While I embark on that journey, I ask again, are you willing to suffer with me?

The greatest command we receive is to love God and to love each other
1 Corinthians 13 will tells what love is.
Proverbs 27 reminds us that iron sharpens iron and that a brother is made for adversity.
John 15 mentions the greatest love: laying your life down for your brothers.

There’s a lot of study to do in regards to all of this.

As I search the scriptures and they search my heart, I found some things that I want to look into deeper and share my findings with you:

• Friendship with God
• Friendship with others
• Accountability and abiding

My endeavors grow in faith requires I grow in obedience and friendship with God and His people. Whether it’s in reading, through prayer, or by walking together…

Will you suffer with me?