Wednesday - "The Fight"

From Haggai 1: "Then Haggai, the LORD's messenger, gave this message of the LORD to the people: 'I am with you,' declares the LORD."

I am not a fighter. Never have been. Sure, I like to tease people every once in awhile...but if I can tell they start to become offended, I will immediately apologize and make things right. That is until I met Wanda's brother. You see, in elementary school, Wanda was one of my targets. She sat in front of me in class and I used to pick on her just because I was trying to be funny.

One day after school, she told her brother that she had heard enough...and he needed to do something about me. I saw him running toward me out of the corner of my eye... so I did what any peace-lover would do... I ran... as fast as my 3rd grade legs would carry me.

Unfortunately, he was faster. He caught me and hit me in the lip. As the blood trickled down my chin I looked around the circle at all of my "friends" who did nothing to stop him from hitting me. I felt embarrassed because I never meant for this to happen...but worse yet, I felt betrayed by those that called me "pal." Every single person stepped aside so he could hit me. Nobody came forward in my defense.

Sometimes I still feel that way. Things happen in my life and I turn to those that call themselves my friends...and one by one they refuse to help. Sometimes I get "I'm too busy" or "Send me an email and we'll chat" or my favorite..."I'd like to but...." Nobody closes the circle. No one steps up. Sometimes I feel all by myself in life.

How about you? Ever felt that way? Have you ever experienced the sting of loneliness? of Betrayal? Have you experienced the feeling of total isolation? If so, I've got good news. Look at today's passage... "I am with you" God says...

The day I was hit in the mouth...God was with me. The day you lost your job...God was with you. The time you cried alone sitting on the end of your bed...the time you lost your true love...the time your parents threw you out...the time you argued with your spouse...the time he/she said "I Do" but they didn't... God was there. He was by your side. Waiting for you to call on Him. Not like a little puppy...at your beck-and-call. But as a loving father who is giving His child some space to experience and learn from the pain...but not long enough to be overwhelmed by it. He was there. He IS there.

There is nothing you will go through today that you will have to face by yourself.

...and there is nothing to be afraid of... He is there.

See you tomorrow,
Pastor Brian