I leaned against the kitchen sink and sighed so loud that my baby fern on the nearby windowsill shuddered.

It was Tuesday morning and I was already DONE for the week. Not done according to my work calendar or my to-do list or my kids’ sports schedules. But my body and mind were done. My energy and creativity — gone. My belief in my ability to move through this intense season – finito. My resolve to keep on keeping on – crispy around every frayed edge. (And not the good kind of melted cheese-on-potatoes crispy. The kind that leaves a bitter, burnt taste in your mouth.)

I glanced at the sink brimming with last night’s dishes. I listened to the hum of the washing machine re-washing the load of towels I forgot to move into the dryer two days ago. I felt the tightness in my chest… realized I was holding my breath… and exhaled long and slow.

Jesus, I need You. Every hour I need You.

I headed back to my desk to tackle the project that was tangling my mind and knotting up my neck. Then I heard in my spirit, I am here for you. I will meet your needs. You don’t have to walk this journey alone.

Alone. How often do we slip into the mental silo of believing we are all alone? Believing no one understands our struggles, no one is able (or willing) to help shoulder our responsibilities, no one sees how hard we’re trying. Maybe no one cares?

When we rehearse the refrain of “no one,” we are automatically excluding the most important Someone!

God is SUPER clear about the reality of His relentless presence:

“Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.”
Deuteronomy 31:8 NLT

“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.
Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you.
I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.”
Isaiah 41:10 NLT

“I will be your God throughout your lifetime—
until your hair is white with age.
I made you, and I will care for you.
I will carry you along and save you.”
Isaiah 46:4 NLT

We never need to worry about being alone. What we need is greater awareness of God’s presence.

He’s already here! When you’re sleep-deprived from middle-of-the-night feedings or toddler nightmares, when you’re overwhelmed by more work duties piled on your overflowing plate, when you’re crushed by a relationship you can’t fix – God is with you.

The power, the goodness, the faithfulness of His presence never leave us! “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed” (Psalm 34:8). Hallelujah!

Not only does God promise to walk with us, but He also designed us to walk with others. He created us (and commands us) to weep together and rejoice together, break bread together, and build each other up. When the Spirit lovingly whispered, I am here for you. I will meet your needs. You don’t have to walk this journey alone, it was also the reminder I needed to invite others to walk this stretch of the road with me.

I grabbed my phone and opened a group text with three dear friends. In black little letters, I poured out my heart about all the things that were weighing me down. The technical glitches with my new business. The extra family expenses, financial pressure, and added work to make it all work. “…there just aren’t enough hours in the day,” I texted.

“I KNOW it’s all in God’s hands and every day I’m asking Him to lead me by His strength and not my own. But if I’m honest, I feel on the edge of burnout and overwhelm… and I just can’t afford to be there. Will you please pray for peace and clarity and productivity (and rest) in the measure I need it?”

Just writing those words made my soul exhale.

Then the bing of replies began. My sister-friends assuring me that I am seen. I am prayed for. I am loved. My friend, Sara, was also quick to offer dinner any time I needed it that week. Again, Hallelujah!

A couple of days later, I pulled up to Sara’s house on my way between shuttling one son to soccer practice and another to baseball. I walked into the most amazing aroma! “It’s your lemon chicken orzo soup!” she explained. In addition to nourishing homemade soup, Sara had cut-up cantaloupe, a fresh salad, baguettes warm from the oven, cold sparkling waters, and peanut butter ice cream sandwiches to boot!

“This is so beautiful and generous I could cry! Thank you!” I said, tears already welling in my eyes as I hugged my friend.

“I was talking to someone on the phone as I was making dinner,” Sara said. “I shared what I was doing and how it’s a gift to me that I can come alongside you. I told my friend, ‘I will never write a book or host a podcast like Becky, but I can make her dinner, and in doing so be part of the work God is doing through her.’ So thank YOU for letting me help.”

Cue the floodgates.

THIS, my friends, is the power of not alone.

Soup and salad didn’t change all my circumstances, but they did buoy my heart and my hope, and pointed me back to the One whose presence changes everything.

The kindness of a friend is always a reflection of the kindness of God. Open yourself up to His kindness today by sharing your struggles with someone. God delights in meeting your every need.

If you need to see more of God’s kindness and the power of the Holy Spirit at work in your life, check out Becky’s book, The Simple Difference: How Every Small Kindness Makes a Big Impact.

 

Listen to today’s devotion on the player below or on your fave podcast app!

 

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