Presence

We need each other. We think we can do things on our own, but it’s difficult to accept when we can’t.

When I was in my 30s and involved in youth ministry, I attended a retreat for our church leadership. The retreat leader invited us to find a place in the church to be alone and pray with a line of scripture. We were encouraged to try a different way to pray than we were used to; possibly using a different pose or reading out loud. After reading and reflecting on the verse, I began to repeat over and over, “I need help, I need help, I need help….” Those words stayed with me all day. I still think back to then, remembering how God knew my thoughts and brought those words into my consciousness through prayer.

I spent time with some friends last night talking about God’s presence in our lives. Sharing our stories strengthens our faith and help us realize we are not alone. As Christians, we encourage and help each other shoulder our burdens as we live in this world.