Bearing With One Another in Love – Ephesians 4:2-3

“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”
— Ephesians 4:2–3

This verse hits home in a deep way. Because if you’ve ever walked with someone through addiction or trauma, you know relationships can stretch to their limits. Loving someone through pain requires more than warm feelings—it takes humility, gentleness, and a whole lot of grace.

Dana’s story in From These Broken Pieces is one that still brings tears to my eyes. She and her mom had been through years of hurt. Addiction, deception, distance—it built a wall between them that felt unbreakable. But God wasn’t done.

Her mom could’ve shut her out for good. She had every reason to. But instead, she chose love. Not the easy, Instagram-caption kind of love. The kind that prays through heartbreak. The kind that waits through relapse. The kind that reflects Jesus.

She bore with Dana in love—and in doing so, created space for healing. That’s the kind of effort Ephesians 4 is talking about. Not perfection. Not pretending everything’s okay. But showing up, again and again, with a heart surrendered to God’s idea of unity.

If you’re walking through something similar, I want you to know: you’re not alone. And the work you’re doing to love others well—it matters. It might be hard, but it’s holy.

For encouragement in your own walk, check out You Are Loved or download these Bible affirmations for healing. You don’t have to have all the answers—you just need to stay connected to the One who does.

Real unity takes real work. But it’s worth every effort you make.

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of love. Ephesians 4:2-3