That’s God’s promise to you. Sit and dwell with this truth for a moment. You are upheld. Even as you fall, you’ll never fall so far as to tumble into the abyss. Even as you find yourself shrouded in darkness— His light still penetrates.
He strengthens you. You are upheld. Even during those moments and seasons when the evidence is contrary. You ARE upheld by the nail-pierced hands of Jesus. Forever.
This past Saturday Prince of Peace participated in a Go Day. We gathered in groups of teams and went into our community to take church on the road. Not with guitars or singing or sermons. We went into our community with hammers and hedge clippers. We worshiped our amazing God by making and delivering a meal to our local firehouse, but doing lawn work at the home of a recently widowed woman. We built a ramp on a porch to help a woman get in and out of her home. Go Days are about going into the community to love. And it was beautiful!
I was on the ramp team—mostly as team support. I did have a saw in my hand at one point, but don’t worry, I quickly handed it to the guy who asked for it.
While we were at the home, it was clear that we needed to add some extra support to the porch over hang. Rob built a beam out of several pieces of lumbers and a whole lot of screws. Bill added a four by four post to each side of the porch. With our whole team in place we hoisted the beam, lifted the porch roof line, and secured the new posts and the beam in place.
When we arrived we were worried that a portion of the roof might collapse. Together we strengthened and secured the roof. It was anchored into place.
Do you ever feel as though you are about to collapse?
Scared. Insecure. Lonely. Tired. Sad. Overwhelmed. Worn out. Hopeless. And so many more.
Life has a way of chucking these struggles at us from every angle. Curve balls are a part of life, aren't they? And they rarely come one at a time.
The reality is, life is heavy. Too heavy to carry the load by yourself. This extra weight is one of the consequences of our sinful rebellion. This weight is not one of the consequences that gets all the headlines. Death and separation from God capture most of the focus. But the weight of our sin has a cumulative impact.
Are you burdened? Over encumbered with the weight of life?
Jesus tells you that his burden is light. He wants to carry your baggage for you. He wants you to go further faster by loosening your load.
Jesus wants to add his beam for strength and support to keep you from collapsing.
But here is the beauty of it all. Jesus doesn’t zap you with his power and turn you into Superman or Wonder Woman. Most often Jesus strengthens and upholds your by sending his army of people.
The church—the gathering of people—this is how God works and who God uses to accomplish His almighty purposes. You, my dear friend, are the hope of the world. You are the one who God activates to uphold, strengthen, and bless others. You are a part of the team that makes things different for others.
In the hands of our almighty God you are a holy 4x4 post providing support for someone as they are about to collapse. You, linking arms with other followers, become a holy beam of strength and beauty that stands in the gaps of peoples lives. You, blessed child of God, are the one that others are waiting on this week. You are the answer to prayer that has been heard by our amazing God. He is sending you!
And here is the beautiful part. In supporting and loving others your own burdens will lighten. Your darkness will give way to His light. The gloom in your own heart will diminish. This is how God’s economy works.
As you give of yourself you will receive.
So, go into the week ahead with your eyes open. Go with the confidence that your almighty God will not let you collapse. And the same God who has promised you so much is also sending you to answer the prayers of others.
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