Today’s Daily Bread ~ Umbrella Holder

Exodus 17:12-13 – Moses’ arms finally became too tired to hold up the staff any longer.  So Aaron and Hur found a stone for him to sit on.  Then they stood on each side, holding up his hands until sunset.  As a result, Joshua and his troops were able to crush the army of Amalek.

We are not meant to bear our burdens alone.

This has never been illustrated more clearly to me than it was a few months ago.  I serve on a ministry at my church called Thirsty Thursday/First Friday Feast.  There are four speakers, and we take turns presenting a talk with a light meal on the first Thursday and Friday of every month.  In November, one of our speakers shared a very moving testimony.

She had chosen a few years ago to leave a high profile, high paying job in corporate America to be home more with her family.  Then the economy crumbled.  Her husband owns and operates a company that works directly with home builders, so when that industry took a hit, so did he.  They went through their savings, then their 401K.  As their income shrank their bills grew, and soon they realized they would have to sell their house.

Unfortunately, they have a hole in their roof that no one can find, because it only leaks when it rains a certain direction, and they have yet to pinpoint it.  They can’t sell their house until they can fix the roof and repair the water damage.  On top of this, they’ve been hit with a medical emergency concerning one of their children.  Then her husband’s equipment was stolen.  My sweet friend is trying desperately to find a full-time job with benefits, with no luck to speak of so far.

She shouldered this alone for several years until November of 2010.  When she gave her heartfelt, tear-filled story, no one in the room moved.  Her display of faith through tough times was inspiring.  When she was finished, one woman after another offered hugs and support.  Afterward, she received a flood of e-mails offering prayers and suggestions.  Someone came and looked at her roof for free.  Friends seeking to help her find a job sent connections and networking opportunities.  Although her circumstances haven’t changed much, her brothers and sisters in Christ have rallied around her, and her faith remains strong.  She believes, as do I, that God will deliver her family safely through this storm.

My struggle with alcohol spanned twenty-two years; from my first drink at age 13 to my last at 35.  I remember having a conversation with a girlfriend after we’d spent a weekend together on an Emmaus retreat.  We were on a walk, and I was talking about drinking, and how I thought I was supposed to stop.  She listened as I poured out my heart, not saying much.  It was her phone call a few hours later that really touched my heart.  “Listen, I do think you should stop drinking,” she said.  “And I’ll help you in any way I possibly can.”  Those first few months of living alcohol free were both difficult and frightening, but my husband, sisters, parents and friends rallied around me, holding up my arms when I didn’t think I could do it.

God does not mean for us to bear our burdens alone.

I believe with all my heart that God strengthens us to weather our storms and carries us through.  And I also believe He charges us to hold each other’s umbrellas.

Genesis 2:18 – And the LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone.  I will make a companion who will help him.”

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 – Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!

Luke 10:1 – The Lord now chose seventy-two other disciples and sent them on ahead in pairs to all the towns and villages He planned to visit (emphasis mine).

We were not placed on the earth to isolate ourselves.  We were created to love God and one another, to serve God and one another.  I treasure every opportunity to hold someone’s umbrella. When are we closer to Christ than when we’re allowing Him to work through us? Jesus has no body on this earth but yours and mine.  He blesses us to be a blessing to others, and surrounds us with good Christian friends to sustain us when we need it.  We can’t just tell people that Jesus loves them, we need to show them!  This is the heart and soul of Christianity, that we would introduce people to Jesus with our love and acts of sacrificial service.  We may or may not win them over with our words, but we will almost always win them over with our love.

Who in your life needs an umbrella holder?

Dear Heavenly Father, You have charged us with loving others as You love them, and we confess that we don’t do this nearly as often as we should.  We confess that there are people in our lives that we don’t even like, let alone love.  Please God, forgive us and soften our hearts.  Fill us with Your Holy Spirit and love them through us as we submit to You.  Touch our eyes, that we might see them as You see them, and fill us with compassion for them.  Give us Your wisdom and discernment, that we might understand why You’ve placed them in our path.  God, some of us are really struggling through dark valleys, and we feel alone and isolated in our storms.  We ask that You would send us an umbrella holder.  Lead us to godly, Christian friends that would help us shoulder our burdens.  Remind us of our need for good fellowship.  Strengthen our faith and our arms, so we might hold the umbrellas of others, and help us to shine Your light so that others might be led to You as well.  God, we love You so much.  Thank You for Your blessed Son, Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.  It is in His Holy Name that we pray.  Amen.