The Power of Connection: It Won’t Even Take You 10 Minutes!
The Happiness Challenge
In 2023, writer Jancee Dunn wrote a series of articles called “The Happiness Challenge.” On day two, she shared an idea that had helped her reconnect with a busy friend. They both committed to a simple, 8-minute phone call. She writes:
“I hung up, smiling and humming a little tune. I had missed her and didn’t realize it until I heard her voice. I was also surprised by how much ground we covered without the call feeling rushed. Our connection was brief, but it was real.”
Sometimes, the thing that holds us back from connection is time, but everyone has 8 minutes to spare. In those eight minutes—just one heartfelt conversation, a Bible verse shared in love, a sincere “How are you really doing?”—we can become the vessel God uses to carry someone through a dark moment.
Redeeming Time
Scripture urges us to redeem the time, because the days are evil (Ephesians 5:16). That means we don’t waste the moments we’ve been given. We don’t ignore the opportunities to reflect God’s love in a world that’s hurting. Of all people, Christians should pause, notice, and respond.
We’ve created a FREE Advent calendar to help you do that every day leading up to Christmas! You can find the link to it downstairs in the video description!
Sharing Burdens
But Scripture also tells us to bear one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2)—not just notice them, not just sympathize—but bear them. Imagine a friend stumbling under the weight of a heavy backpack on a long road. Would you keep walking, or would you say,
“Let me carry that for a while—let me walk with you.”
That’s what biblical love looks like. That’s the kind of compassion that transforms lives.
You Have 8 Minutes–Use Them!
During this Thanksgiving week, set aside just 8 minutes to connect with someone who may need encouragement. Call a friend, share a verse, or simply ask, “How are you really doing?” Use those few minutes to carry part of their burden, redeem the time, and reflect Christ’s love in a tangible way.
If you want to learn more, practical ways to share the gospel, check out the link in the description to our landing page for our course, Gospel Conversations that Connect! And then sit down and call someone right now, because sometimes, all it takes is eight minutes to change a life.
