“Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.” James 5:16 NASB
When I was first trying to break free from addiction I stepped down from all leadership roles. For one thing, I wasn’t in the right state of mind to lead and secondly, I was so overwhelmed with trying to fight for purity that I couldn’t focus on anything else. There were days where I literally took it a breath at a time and there was no way I could do anything else.
As God has grown and taught me over these past few years, I’ve gradually stepped back into some positions of leadership. I used to believe that leaders no longer struggled. So, now that I’m leading small groups and teaching again, my mind wants to believe that I automatically won’t struggle. I feel so weak because I’m fighting temptation on all sides. I’m so susceptible to sin-just one decision away at any given moment. .
Awhile back, I got a new computer. I installed it with all of the accountability software and had it ready to use. One particular night, I was trying to type up a lesson on disobedience (of all things) and all I could think about was the old computer on the shelf that no longer had any accountability software on it. Just knowing that it was there was really messing with my mind. I got it out, turned it on and thankfully there was still a filter in place with passwords I didn’t know. Immediately I slammed the lid, put it in my car and took it to my friend’s house. When I handed her my computer and asked her to keep it, I didn’t have to explain anything. See, she already knew my struggles because we regularly share and hold each other accountable; so that day, she didn’t ask any questions, she just knew. She realized how vulnerable I was and that I was letting her into my life by allowing her to see me at my weakest.
Satan wanted me to believe that I have to remain isolated. If I had chosen to believe that lie, then I would have never written this article you are reading right now! Satan wants me to believe that I shouldn’t struggle anymore. He wants to convince me to shut myself off and keep others from seeing my weakness.I can’t let Satan win. As a growing believer in Jesus, I must make the effort to walk together with others. I can’t do life alone. No matter my position, I must lean on others, confess my failures regularly, and grow in Christ.
Isolating believers from other believers is one of Satan’s favorite tactics. Anytime we find ourselves justifying why we aren’t reaching out to others, that’s when we need to remind ourselves that we must reach out in humility to our trusted friends. We were designed to do life in community, not in corners. As Proverbs 27:17 reads, “As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.” (NLT)
Prayer: Thank you for designing community. Please help me to reach out when I’m struggling and not try to do it alone. I will never be strong enough by myself, and when I’m alone, I believe the lies of the enemy. Remind me of truth. Give me humility in my weakness so that I can tap into your strength, oh God. Accountability is always better than isolation.
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