“Buck-up” therapy. You’ve heard of it, haven’t you? In fact, we all have probably subscribed to the philosophy. Pretending that nothing is wrong, we gamely appear to be unaffected by the conflict and stress that fills our lives. After all, asking for help is often perceived as a sign of weakness. The tendency to bluff our way through our problems often prevents us from receiving the help and support we desire. We need each other, and we need God. None of us are capable of maneuvering through the obstacles of life without a Savior.
Prayer: Dear Lord, You are our refuge, a very present help in the time of trouble (Psalm 46:1). Thank You for allowing us to come before You without masks or pretense. You are our safe place.
Devotion by Bonnie Peacock
At times, obeying the Scriptures seems difficult. God asks us to love everyone when obviously some people are undeserving. He expects us to pursue peace when a good fight would be our natural inclination. It would be enjoyable to erupt in anger and retort in sarcasm occasionally, wouldn’t it? Throughout the Bible, God asked men and women to do things that they too thought were hard. In Judges 6:16, God reassured a reluctant man named Gideon, “I will be with thee.”
“Trust me,” my husband likes to tease. But trust is not something that comes easy for me. Fearful and anxious, I am reluctant to try many things. Too often people have let me down, and I hesitate, leery of giving them another opportunity to hurt me. Life is full of pain and disappointments. Who is safe? Is there anyone that I can trust? Do they mean what they say or is there a hidden agenda? Am I being manipulated? The Word of God declares, “God is faithful” (1 Corinthians 10:13). That means that He is trustworthy, true, loyal, constant, staunch, steadfast, devoted, and true-blue!
The Bible tells many stories of Jesus and His disciples. One day Jesus instructed, “Let us pass over to the other side” (Mark 4:35). A great storm developed before they reached the far shore. Jesus, tired from His teaching, slept in the back of the ship. Frantic, the disciples woke Him. “Don’t you even care that we’re about to die?”