I was running on a treadmill across the gym from a weight-lifting club. (I used voice-to-text to get my devotional thoughts down on my phone!) During warm-ups, the members of the club chatted, stretched, and laughed. As the workout began, everyone was at her own bar, lifting lighter weights. But as each lifter went for a higher and higher number, the group dropped their own weights, surrounded the lifter, and shouted like crazy. Nobody could step in and lift the weights for her, because it was her workout. But the heavier the weights, the louder they cheered.

It’s the same when you are part of a group of people who believe in Jesus. God puts people together so you are surrounded by people who will laugh with you during the easier parts of life. The minute things get heavy, they will drop everything to surround you. They can’t do the hard work for you, but they are cheering you on. 

Cheering when life is hard looks a little different though. It most often means sitting next to you, crying with you, taking you to rehab, sending you a text, cleaning your house, holding you accountable, or praying with you. And you do the same for them. “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up” (Ecclesiastes 4:9,10).