God has a network of support for us

Who do you go to when you need to talk and you need someone to listen to you?

Personally, I can tell you that I am blessed my best friend is my wife, Kathy. There is much I share with her. Also, the Promise Keepers men’s group at St. John has become a source of Christian encouragement and support for me. I pray that this group gives support for Christian faith and life to all who attend. There are also many other supporters and friends at St. John with whom I talk.

In addition to family and friends, when I need to talk with someone I often talk to other pastors. There are other longtime pastors who have spent time serving God and his people, and they understand the difficulties and challenges of serving God as a pastor. Some of the issues I would like to talk about with others may include areas of confidentiality, so I don’t share that with friends or other church members — or even my wife. But it is appropriate to talk about professional issues, pastoral issues, with other pastors. I have some really good friends who are pastors, and I appreciate their friendship and willingness to listen.

So, who do you go to when you need the encouragement of a listening ear? Do you visit with a parent, a brother or sister, or do you have a close friend whose listening and advice you really cherish?

Have you ever thought that God has a web of support for his children? God has given us family. What a blessing when a home is a place of love, faith and security. What a blessing when we can go to a family member with concerns. Proverbs 17:17 says, “a brother is born for adversity.” Do you have such support at home?

There are times that before we go to family, we speak with a friend. In Proverbs 18:24 we are told, “there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” Do you have such a friend who is so close that you trust him or her as much or more than even family? What a blessing to have such a person of faith and love in our lives!

I am sure you know the words in Matthew 7:7 about God himself listening and responding to our prayers: “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” What a blessing to know that the Lord of Heaven listens to our concerns and acts in love, power and mercy when we go to him in faith.

The point is that God has not left us alone. In a world of trials, God has sent Jesus, “Immanuel — God with us.” And it is God’s plan to give us companionship, encouragement and love today in our families through church, friends and from personal communication with God through prayer. God has a network of support for us as we face life and its struggles.

Do you need some encouragement? Why not reach out to a Christian friend? Do know someone who needs a shoulder to lean on? Reach out and listen. It’s part of God’s plan that we have friends. It is part of God’s plan that we serve others as friends.

Jonathan Rockey is pastor of St. John Lutheran Church in Palmer. Contact him at jonrock53@mtaonline.net.

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