We all get down from time to time and need somebody to lean on. This is hard to admit when it seems like we don’t have what it takes to figure life out on our own. But we were created for relationships, and this includes needing regular times of support and encouragement from each other.
To be sure, there are times in which others can only walk with us so far and we must continue our journey alone.
But this doesn’t mean we’re completely cut off from the help and support of others.
Simon from Cyrene could not take Jesus’ place on the cross. This was a burden Jesus had to bear alone. But Simon was able to help him carry the cross for a time.
And this is often how we need support as well.
Having someone to lean on is not to neglect our duties and responsibilities in life. But it does recognize life gets hard and we need somebody to help us carry our load.
Sometimes this is someone with boots on the ground with us, lending a helping hand to complete whatever the task is in front of us.
And at other times this is simply a listening ear or a word of encouragement that inspires us to keep fighting the good fight.
Certainly, our wife provides much of this. But we need other men as well. We need both the care and nurturing of the feminine touch, as well as the iron sharpening iron energy of the masculine.
Whatever it looks like, we risk completely breaking down and becoming ineffective whenever we don’t have somebody to lean on throughout life.
When the pain and sorrow of life gets you down, swallow your pride and find somebody to lean on. We all need this support to help us to carry on.
