The heavy weight on her back about her responsibility of trying hard to be a good Christian may be taken advantage by satan to accuse her because she was drowning in the darkness of condemnation and guilt and wanted to end her life. And then she called me.
After listening to her for hours, I prayed with her and told her that she has taken the load of others, which is not supposed for her to carry (Galatians 6:5). And I encourages her not to depend on her own effort to be a saint but fix eyes on Jesus’ finished work and sustaining grace in her life.
I feel that the saints are like cheerleaders instead of the Judge, coming alongside of one another to persevere in pressing on to the end. When we have this motivation in mind, our spoken words are gentle and bringing life to others . However, when we have the legalistic view of “I know better or I am obedient to the truth so that I need to point out your problems to fix you”, then we are carrying the unnecessary load, which causes anxiety for both us and the others. Moreover, the Holy Spirit as the wonderful Counselor is the One who can truly change people.
If we think we are equipped with knowledge and skill to fix people’s problems, we will tend to take the credit. On the contrary, if we pray for people and wait for the Holy Spirit to change them, we will give all the glory to God. Isn’t that what angels in the heaven always do to glorify our Lord? (Revelation 4:8)