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“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”

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An old visitation pastor returned to the church late one afternoon after a particularly difficult round of visits. In the space of a few hours he had been confronted with sickness, dying, marital difficulties and a host of other serious problems. As he entered the building, slowly making his way toward his study, the young office assistant came down the hallway on her way home for the day. She stopped to greet him and as she did so he placed his hand on her shoulder, looked her in the eyes and said,

“Would you do something for me?” 

“Of course”, she replied.

“Today, the burdens are too great for me”, he confessed, “and I fear for my faith. Please tell me Jesus loves me and that my sins are forgiven.”

You and I are troubled by many things and at times, we too may fear for our faith.

In our sorrows we may forget our Lord Jesus, the “man of sorrows” who is familiar with grief. 

In our bodily weakness we may forget God’s ability to help.

We may be inclined to credit our own intelligence and hard work for times of health and prosperity.

In these and a host of other ways the weakness of faith, pride, doubt and our forgetfulness of God is revealed.

This is why, in our doubts and faithlessness, the Christian is invited again and again to return to God’s promises. All of us as God’s people may be the bearers of those promises, of the Good News of what God has done for us in Jesus. Even this day you may speak the words that help another Christian to remember what God has graciously done for them, and in the telling help them trust in Him for all their needs, giving renewed strength, joy and confidence to faltering faith. 

“May the peace of God that passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

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