“Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.” Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
Ecclesiastes 4 reminds me of two important truths: I need others, and I need God. Life is challenging, filled with numerous difficulties and tragedies. There have been times when I tried to face these struggles on my own, and almost every time, I ended up failing in one way or another. The burdens were just too heavy. Even when I thought I had the situation under control, I often looked back and realized I truly didn’t. It was only by God’s grace that I was able to get through those times. Life and its struggles were never meant to be faced alone.
Even when I have others by my side, I still need God. He represents the third strand in the “triple-braided cord.” One strand is me, another is the person helping me, and the third is God, directly and indirectly working in and through me and others to help me overcome the challenges I face almost daily.
If you aren’t already, I encourage you to become part of the church and its mission. Join a biblically-based, Christ-centered small group or class, or look for a more mature and experienced Christian friend who is faithful, available, and trustworthy—someone who can come alongside you and support you during difficult times. Surround yourself with people who will read the Bible with you, help you understand what God is saying directly to you, and show you how to apply it to your life. Seek out those who are committed to praying for you. God blesses us through others, so strive to be a “triple-braided cord.”
Blessings,
Randy Adams