Held. Together.

In my last blog, ‘brokenhearted but held’, I wrote about how I have seen God come close to those who are struggling, seeing people as being ‘held’ by God. That even though situations may not pass easily or quickly, we are able to keep going because God is holding us up. This idea of being held has been swirling in my mind ever since, what does it mean to be held by God? But more than that, surely we can be held in different ways depending on where we are and what we need. We all know the difference between a hug, a cuddle and an embrace – they all offer something different but each of them are powerful and significant. This weekend is the National Youth Ministry Weekend, around 1000 youth leaders gathering together for time together, for teaching, worship, good food and conversations, and for some a much needed time with their allies and their tribe.

I have no doubt that everyone will be coming to the conference having experienced a vastly different story over the last 12 months. Some will be loving life and ministry and will be thriving, some will be weary, some frustrated, some seeking God for what is next, some choosing to keep going even though it’s hard work and some so empty that they do not know what to do next.

I have been reflecting on four ways God might choose to ‘hold’ people as they arrive this week, four images representing four ways in which God might hold us, or use each of us to hold one another.

Carried by a Friend.

I love the image of the Brownlee brothers, it speaks so powerfully of how someone comes close by and carries you when you simply have nothing left. They lay aside their own needs to enable you to ‘finish’. I continue to be blown away by the friends in the story where Jesus heals the paralytic lowered through the roof. Friends that fight for us, work hard for us, go the extra mile for us, carry us, long to ensure we can always get to the feet of Jesus – they are the people I want around me.“Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on.” Mark 2:4. Maybe God is going to bring someone to carry you this weekend, maybe someone will just be there for you to lean on, so that even with a limp or exhaustion, you can keep going. And as you keep going you will find a new strength, a healing, gifted by God to allow you dance out the room and all the way home.

Assured by the Creator

There was a time when each one of us was held as a brand new creation, we were looked at as the most precious thing imaginable. Eyes would look down at us and speak such assurance we knew everything was going to be ok. Some days we feel alone, we feel less sure of ourselves, we struggle with being an imposter or not being as good as the next youth leader. I’ve been there, I would guess many of us have. Maybe God is going to meet with you this weekend in a way that only the Creator can. “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Psalm 139:13-14. I pray we would hear truth this weekend, truth spoken by God. Truth that isn’t tainted or measured against someone else or reliant on our perfection. I pray we would hear truth that lets us know God is close by, telling us we are His and we are who He made us to be.

Embraced by the Father

I love a hug, but when an embrace happens, you know the difference, and it is so good. My son has always been good at hugs, but now he is almost as tall as me, and pretty strong, I get embraced rather than hugged, I love it. We know the image so well; as the son is broken and dirty, on his knees, head down heading home ashamed. But the father runs, like really runs, and doesn’t hug, but embraces like never seen or known before. The father doesn’t care who is looking on, in fact he wants them to see and know his son is home. “So he got up and went to his father. ‘But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms round him and kissed him.” Luke 15:20. Maybe these past months have felt like we have left home, we have wandered, lost, searching. Wherever we have been we need to know God ALWAYS welcomes us home. He doesn’t just tolerate our return, but runs to us with overwhelming love and an embrace that will leave a mark and remind us we are His and we are held.

Supported by the Tribe

My ‘tribe’ are the reason I am still in ministry, without them I would have lost my way, fallen, dropped from exhaustion or simply given up because I felt so alone in ministry. For me the NYMW is all about tribe, it is about finding people who get what ministry is like and spending time in their presence. Whether you have been involved with youthwork for decades or weeks, we need to remember we are in this together, one church, one God, one hope. As we come from the far corners of the country, and beyond, would we meet allies and friends. Would we find people we can be real with, people we can share stories with and people we can inspire and be inspired by. Maybe God is going to introduce you to your tribe this weekend, maybe He will simply give you a reminder and a blessing through the tribe you already have. Either way, lean into them, let others lean into you, together lean into God.

“Once you meet your tribe, you will begin questioning why you ever put up with anything less than the nourishing and supportive energy that they provide.” – Robin S. Baker.

This weekend my prayer is that God will show Himself, through all of us, to be these things to one another.

“I don’t know where my road is going, but I know that I walk better when I hold your hand.”

― Alfred de Musset

“God is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”

Colossians 1:17 NIVUK