I Need You, and You Need Someone

Do you remember the army poster created at the beginning of World War I? The one with Uncle Sam saying I Want You for the U.S. Army?

Well I want to tell you I not only want you, but I need you to walk with me through life.

I need you to encourage me when I want to quit.

I need you to stand alongside me when I’m feeling alone.

I need you to hold me up when I don’t think I can stand for one more moment.

I need you to remind me of the truth. I need you to lift me up, love me, and hold me accountable. I need you to laugh and cry and be with me.

Some of you can do that in person; most of you from a distance—through prayer and words.

And not only do I need you, but you need me (or at least someone). Because we are not supposed to navigate this world apart from God or apart from others. 

We are not supposed to navigate this world apart from God or apart from others. Share on X

Recently, I ran into an old acquaintance (okay, not old but someone I met many years ago!) at a retirement party. I always admired this lady, but miles and work issues kept us from developing more than a casual relationship.

Yet as we visited that night, I knew this was someone I could confide in and receive just the kind of encouragement I needed. In less than 2 hours, we re-established our relationship and at a much deeper level than it had ever been.

Both of us agreed to continue developing our friendship. Such a blessing. 

We All Need Someone

The Lord knew we needed someone to come alongside us. “The Lord God said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone (Genesis 2:18).'”

He knew we needed others to share life with. To cheer us on and lift us up. 

Even in the midst of His deepest agony, Jesus made sure His mother wouldn’t be left alone (John 19:25-27) in her grief.

We all need community. We all need others to come alongside us.

You need someone, and you need to be that someone to others.

Exercise Encouragement

Everyone has different ways of extending encouragement. To some it’s sending hand-written notes. Nearly a lost art in this digital age, my mother-in-law is wonderful at this form of encouragement.

To some a phone call seems much-more personable. Others like to tweet or send a quick FB message of encouragement. Still others find their preferred mode to be in-person encouragement.

Whatever kind of encourager you are, discover it. More importantly, exercise it!

Because Life is Messy

I don’t have to tell you that life is messy. Really messy. 

And may I encourage you that Jesus is always present and will never fail you. He is our one and only Hope! 

Yet we all can use that physical pat on the back. That “atta girl” when things get tough. We all need comfort, reassurance, and wisdom from others who are not blinded by our circumstances.

We all need comfort, reassurance, and wisdom from others who are not blinded by our circumstances. Share on X

We all need someone! 

This week, be intentional about being that someone in another’s life and seeking out someone to be in yours. 

“Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.” Philippians 2:1-2

Reflections: What is your preferred form of encouragement: of sharing it and receiving it? How will you deliver encouragement to someone this week?

More than 4 years of counting and I’ve surpassed 4,000 gifts in Ann Voskamp’s Joy Dare! What a blessing! Here are numbers #4,164–4,184. Read my entire list by clicking here.