At a women retreat on the Atlantic coast of Florida, I walked every morning on the windswept beach while the rough waves of autumn and semi-darkness of cloudy sunrises invited me to listen and pray.  There were prayers of gratitude, sorrow, and seeking for myself, family, and my community of women. My thoughts and prayers centered around the issues and dreams of many women in my circles of family, ministry, and community.

Not too surprising, one night at the beach, a dream about women woke me up at 4 am. It was so unusually vivid and commanding that I quickly wrote it down. In the dream, a woman was spotlighted. She was on the ground, pushed down by life, head low and unable to move. A female prophet stepped up between the woman who was sobbing and broken and a group of women gathered in the background. The messenger stood tall in the center, pointing with a long outstretched arm to the woman on the ground, saying with powerful authority: “Do NOT let her stay down and out alone. Stand with her, stand for her, STAND TOGETHER around her.” 

A few days later, a dear friend shared her story, a real-time example of my dream. She had been walking her dogs and turned to retrieve and throw a ball to some neighborhood children. She fell backwards hitting her head and back hard against the concrete sidewalk. The pain was excruciating and she was paralyzed with fearful fleeting thoughts: “I will never walk again, my life is over, I won’t be able to live in my house or be with my dogs.” As a long-time resident of the neighborhood, my friend was well-known and loved and suddenly all the other dog walkers and neighbors gathered around her to care, to call, to wait until she could move. And eventually she did get up on her own, and return to her life.

 But when the disciples gathered around Paul, he rose up, entered the city and on the next day he went on…to strengthen the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith! Acts 14:19-20,22

My dream and my friend’s story all reminded me of this biblical story that also illustrates this healing power of community. Paul, a bold and fearless messenger of the good news of Jesus Christ, was always at risk for his preaching truth that disrupted the culture of the day. Paul himself reports he was beaten with rods, stoned, shipwrecked, and suffered countless hardships. On one of his journeys, the angry crowd stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead. Being pummeled with stones by an angry crowd must have left him broken, unconscious and bleeding. Yet a miracle of healing in a praying gathered community is reported with little detail and fanfare.

REFLECT. I have often asked the Lord why the writer didn’t tell us more about what happened as those friends gathered around Paul. Maybe we need to figure that out together and put it into action in our own community. What are the health issues, losses, fears, anxiety, or disappointments that are keeping someone near to us down, paralyzed and unable to stand up alone?

As Paul rose up from near death, surrounded by God’s saving grace and the healing power of friends standing together around him, he was able to move forward and continue encouraging others in their faith. Is there a woman who comes to mind who needs your community to help them not to give up and to stand together with her? Be intentional to follow up with those who the Lord has brought to your attention.

…We know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself…

So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace.

2 Corinthians 4:14-18 MSG

ACT. Where can you, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience?  Would it be as simple as walking your neighborhood, noticing and meeting a need, or opening your home? As difficult as it might be, allow the Lord to bring someone to mind you need to forgive as the Lord has forgiven you. Can you let go of control, and judgment that may be keeping them down? See how that forgiveness frees you from anxiety, impatience, and anger. Today start a conversation to respond to injustice, indifference, and despair by standing together in healing community. (Colossians 3:12-14)

Help your community of women to get involved in international and local groups advocating for women on such issues as Domestic Violence, Human Trafficking, Homelessness, Maternal Health, or Addiction. Work as a team using the gifts and skills of each woman including prayer and financial support, professional skills, advocacy, creative arts, and support for the care givers.

SING A PRAYER. Have Mercy On Me, The Porter’s Gate.

Bless the hands and feet
Of those who serve in need
Of the broken and ashamed
Bless the weary soul
The Lord will make us whole
God, speak peace to those afraid
May the words we speak
Build a bridge for peace
Your loving kindness shows the way
Open up our doors
Giving refuge for
All the weary and afraid…

Let your mercy flow through us.