Friday, May 9, 2014
By: Gwen Hitt
Thanks for Being There
Philippians 4:13-14 13 I can do all this through Him who gives me strength. 14 Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles.
Over the years, I have been asked if I have a favorite scripture. Almost on every occasion, Philippians 4:13 is the first scripture that came to mind. I believe that I am drawn to this verse because it has sustained me when I thought that I could not get through certain situations.
Although this powerful scripture is an awesome reminder of God's willingness to equip us to handle all that we encounter in life, I feel certain that God included the subsequent verse, Philippians 4:14, to encourage us to share our troubles with a trusted individual.
We all experience many trials in our lives. The impact of devastating life events can truly rock our world. During these times, the natural tendency is to bottle up our issues ... to keep them to ourselves. However, there is something powerful about sharing our burdens - reaching out to someone in our pain.
My challenge to you when faced with difficult circumstances is to share your burden with a trusted individual (family member or friend) AND to bring it to our loving Father. While our troubles and burdens do not completely go away, there is definitely some relief that occurs. As the old adage wisely states, "A burden shared is a burden halved."
Dear Lord, Lead me to a trusted individual to share my burdens ... to help get me through the rough times. Know that I am truly grateful for YOUR constant presence in my life ... Your comfort when I am in distress.
I thank You, my Jesus, for dying for me. I believe that You are Lord and that God raised You from the grave so that I can have eternal life.
Reflection: Are you carrying a burden in your life today? Have you taken it to God? Have you shared it with a trusted individual?
