When life feels stuck, our instinct is often to try harder.
We search for a better routine, make another promise to ourselves or summon one more burst of determination. Yet sometimes the problem isn’t that we aren’t trying hard enough. It’s that we’re trying to do alone what God designed us to do together.
Paul writes in Romans 1:12 that he wants his faith and the faith of the believers in Rome to encourage one another. Notice the balance. Paul doesn’t imagine himself standing above everyone else, dispensing wisdom while needing nothing in return. He expects to give encouragement—and to receive it.
That is a beautiful picture of Christian community.
Think of a coal removed from a fire. However brightly it was burning, its heat soon fades in isolation. Place it among other burning coals and it begins to glow again. Our faith can be like that. Alone, our courage fades. Together, our faith burns brighter.
This becomes especially important when life feels heavy. Those are often the moments when we most want to withdraw. But God frequently meets us when we choose to lean in: through a listening ear over coffee, a message arriving at the right time or a simple prayer spoken with love.
None of these actions seems dramatic. Yet each can carry the presence of Christ into another person’s struggle.
So ask yourself two questions today: Who is encouraging my faith? And whose faith am I encouraging?
Perhaps your next step is joining a small group, returning to worship or calling a trusted Christian friend. It doesn’t have to be impressive. It only has to move you towards connection.
Growth is never a solo journey. It is a shared one—and sometimes the first step out of feeling stuck is allowing someone to walk beside you.
Watch the five-minute devotional on YouTube.