An Encouraging Community
- Brooke Singleton
- Feb 5
- 2 min read
“No matter where we find ourselves on that spectrum, God appeals to us as sisters, to help each other, not pull away.”
“And we appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters: to instruct those who are idle. Be skilled at gently encouraging those who are losing heart. Be faithful to stand your ground. Help the weak to stand again. Be quick to demonstrate patience with everyone.” 1 Thessalonians 5:14
Ooo momma, this verse is all about the purpose and power of community! It’s a call fit for the troops, a regiment in God's army, and mom-friends, I can’t help but see your faces as I read it.
“…sisters, we appeal to you.” These words hold hope for all us moms. The ones energized to fight our spiritual battle, spurring others on in the call, and also for the moms who are worn down and grasping for help in this season. No matter where we find ourselves on that spectrum, God appeals to us as sisters, to help each other, not pull away.
God wants us to realize how urgently we need each other to stay the course, follow the commands, walk out the faith, and connect arm in arm on the frontline for our families. This verse calls us to guide those who are “idle,” which is the Greek word “ataktos”, a word used to describe troops that are out of battle formation – a soldier who has forgotten their training, lost their focus, wandered away from their best position of attack. We are to call them back to formation, motivate each other to listen to our commander and chief, Jesus, and to follow His orders and example.
And we are to encourage the sisters who are losing heart. To gently and compassionately guide each other back to God's perspective. To be faithful to stand on the ground God has caused us to win through trials in our lives, and to help the weak and weary to stand again.
And there will be different moments and seasons where we find ourselves in each of these places, right? Moments and seasons where each of us could find ourselves slightly off course and need a sister’s word and hand to help us back up.
We are to spur our sisters on, encourage the tired, and stand beside each other in long-suffering, no matter how long the battle takes. That’s loving commitment. Moms, when we say we are in this fight together, hand in hand, on the frontline for our families...we mean it. We need each other. It won’t be perfect, we’ll have to roll with each other’s lives, but we’re stronger together, better together.
We were meant for community.
Action Steps:
Over the next week, I encourage you to both reach out for help from your community and be the help to your community. Ask a mom-friend how you can pray for her, or if she has any needs you can fill. Ask for prayer yourself. Don’t be afraid to be vulnerable about your needs, because that’s how your community helps you!
Written by Brooke, mom of 3