Life should not be lived alone. God has called us to help others, whether they are friends, neighbors, family, or strangers, through tough times. We are to carry one another’s burdens in this life together.
In these next moments, think about those around you, those with whom you live. How could you help them as they struggle?
And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.
Romans 5:3-5
There was a lot of controversy about the broadcast of this year’s Olympic Games in London. Many people in the U.S. complained about finding out results before they could see events that took place earlier in the day. They wanted to experience the thrill of not knowing and then watching later as though they were seeing the competition “live.” People love the tension and excitement of suspense.
However, in suffering, it is not fun to wonder about the future. When we are in pain or in need of help, it brings anxiety to be uncertain about what happens next. God promises that our hope in God’s loving presence will not prove wrong. We already know how the story of God’s love for the world ends. Jesus said, “I will be with you always, even to the close of the world.”
Patricia Lyons
Lord, there are things that worry me and anxieties that choke my joy. Help me to feel your presence and to trust you with the challenges I face. Amen.
Life together means we care for those who are hurting. We embrace those who are going through tough times. We remind others, “You are not alone. I will never leave you.” We also remind others of the promise of God to never leave them or forsake them, even in the midst of a storm.
Go today with the confidence you have in God’s presence and be the presence of God in someone’s life today.