In January of my sophomore year of college, I laced up my hiking boots and packed a backpack (and two huge suitcases) and set off for a semester abroad in Santiago, Chile. My then-boyfriend, whom I had begun dating just a mere three months prior to leaving, wrote me a letter to read while I was gone. There is one passage from the letter that I still think of occasionally. In it was Ecclesiastes 4:12: “A cord of three strands is not easily broken,” and below it, the words “and what a strong cord we will have: you, me, and the Lord of all creation.” And although that relationship didn’t survive the strain of a semester away from each other (long distance is hard when you’re nineteen!), I’ve applied that sentiment to many of my relationships over the years: friendships, romantic relationships, and familial relationships alike.
When I was young, I didn’t know how to braid my hair. I would end up just separating my hair into two sections and twisting them around each other, until one year at church camp when a friend taught me how to correctly braid my hair. The secret? Separating it into three sections, like the author of Ecclesiastes says in chapter 4, the cord of three strands is not easily broken. I’ve found this to be true over and over again throughout my life. My relationships with other people are so much stronger when the relationship is built on a mutual desire to serve and love God first, then each other.
Surrounding yourself with people who love the Lord is so important, especially during formational seasons of life. Lack of community makes it increasingly hard to find purpose. I have found that a life in pursuit of God is so much more meaningful when it is done in community. When surrounded by other believers, seasons of fruitfulness become even more sweet, and seasons of doubt are met with comfort and understanding. The cord of three strands provides a safe place to learn, to question, and to grow. It is important that we not only seek out this kind of community for ourselves, but commit to being this kind of community for those around us. The kingdom of God is a place where all who believe are welcome. May we seek to live this out in our own lives each and every day.
Angie, what a beautiful idea to remember those who have modeled eternal freedom for us! Thank you for a way to make Memorial Day even more meaningful!
So thankful for you all here and for your prayers. Praying that my sister and her husband would find Jesus in all of this, and realize that with him, every other issue in the world will fall into place. Prayers appreciated for my family, for unity and peace. It can be overwhelming when my sister and brother in law seem to constantly be sending me news articles about current issues of churches that don’t obey the social distancing rules. But of course you only hear of the people who are not obeying in the news, instead of the many churches who are taking precautions, and who also have been serving their communities during this time. Praying that the devil would lose his power over them. I even brought up pornography (which is a part of my story, though I didn’t tell her that) when I talked to my sister last week, and she didnt see how horrible it can be and said that it can be “art”. If that’s not the devil then I don’t know what is. Prayers appreciated SRT family!
Praying for your family Sarah! During all of this I have been praying for the salvation of my ex bf. I know that God is doing something big in all of this. It’s crazy to think that for the first time ever we are all forced to be away from the distractions of our daily lives. I pray that God speaks to your sister and your brother in-law. May Satan be far from them!
Today’s SRT passages are so very personal and they incite both pain and hope. I have read these and many like passages which point us to God’s intentional design of the church, the body of believers over the years in an isolating chronic illness. I have spent many hours with tearful pleas to the one who is able to bring this beautiful design more tangibly in my life (and the lives of others who are in like circumstances). My church experience has been one in which the common saying, “out of sight, out of mind” rang true as my health condition worsened and I could no longer function well enough to go to the church gathering.
As the isolation grew, I sought help through the word and found myself saturated by the promise of fellowship. So I hoped and attempted to invite people to my home asking them to not wear fragrances, but my body had become so reactive to even the slightest scent, I could not even tolerate this. Now years later my main access to other humans, outside of my husband, is the phone and computer and even with those limits must be set or else the flares get out of control. I was told by some that my prison of sickness is due to lack of faith and others admitted they were afraid of my illness so stayed away. And some suggested that I was idolizing the community. It’s been a confusing path of pain.
Yet, it’s been a journey of learning to hold onto hope and keep believing this promise of fellowship is true for me. I aim to wait and trust and listen to the Lord as I pray for healing of my overactive body and endurance to keep the faith as I wait for his deliverance. I confess that my hope has failed in the past and even today it’s a battle of the mind to keep my eyes on my Deliverer, believing he is the God who raises the dead and sets his people free from prisons. I continue to pray for many with ME/CFS or other conditions which keep them homebound because of bodies which do not tolerate even the presence of people because of sensory and environmental sensitivities. These are people who have been “social distancing” for much longer than our common COVID-19 experience. I pray that we will not strive for health outside of God’s ways, nor worry about it, but to seek God’s kingdom first while knowing he cares for us in our pain. Please pray with me.
Diana,
Your post was heart wrenching. I’m so sorry for all the difficulties you are dealing with. I will pray with you and for you. Thank you for sharing your story. It’s definitely made me more mindful of the many struggles people are going through that we don’t see. I read a post on Instagram today from Jo Saxton. I don’t know if you are familiar with her. She’s an evangelist among other things. Anyway it really touched me and I hope it’s an encouragement to you.
“ Hope still wins but it often has a tear stained face.
It has a vulnerable heart.
It has bloodied fists, because it keeps on fighting.
It has scraped knees, because it keeps on crawling forward.
It’s sweaty; Hope is not necessarily pretty.
But you always want Hope on your side,
because Hope will fight for you.
Hope will fight for the hardest parts of your life.”
God bless!
Praying with you, Diana. And may I remind you that your sickness is not for lack of faith but so that the glory of God might be displayed through your particular story (see John 9:3). Don’t let anyone heap that shame on you that God does not intend you to carry! Praying he would bring selfless, sincere, encouraging, unconditional community alongside you!
I feel I am part of several Christian communities. The first is here with you, my sisters in Christ, I am able to seek help and provide help with you my SRT sisters. I so enjoy coming everyday to not only read the scripture and devotion but also the many wise and helpful comments here. I am able seek prayer and pray for others. Another of my Christian communities is my church, even through social distancing they are still reaching out and keeping in touch and remaing a community. God bless you all and happy Monday.
Wow this devotion hit the nail on the head for me today! First, Ellen I studied abroad in Valparaiso, Chile and it was one of the best 5 months of my life! I hope you made it to Patagonia while you were there :) God blew my socks off with the beauty of His Creation!
Second, I was so thankful to spend 4 years at a Christian university that placed such a HUGE emphasis on community. From your very first night on campus, you were placed in small groups to do fun activities. Your freshman year floor was designed to create a space for community to develop. I had the opportunity to play on the field hockey team so now I have a group of life-long sisters in Christ. How I cherish those 4 years of rich Christ-centered community so much. In the last 2 years since graduating college I have found it much more challenging to find community. I am so thankful my home church where my parents live started weekly Zoom Bible studies. That, in addition to the SRT community, has been such sweet sense of virtual community. I thank God for my 2 best friends from undergrad who I can call any time and where our friendship is a cord of 3 strands. I am so thankful I can share my heart with them and know they will give me Godly advice and lift me up in prayer.
Third, in church yesterday one of our pastors preached about the necessity of diversity in the body of Christ. Today’s passage from 1 Corinthians truly highlighted this message. We all have been created with unique gifts to use for His glory. The fruit of the Spirit we bear is not for ourselves, but for those inside and outside of the body of Christ who need it. We are not here to exercise our own will, but to allow God to manifest His will through us. The fruit that God has uniquely equipped each of us to bear will draw people to us who desperately need that fruit. There’s a chapter in the book I just finished called “The Rest of the Gospel” that also addresses this idea.
Lastly! (Sorry for the long post) As a single woman, God is really teaching me that I need to find a husband who loves the Lord. Someone who can join me in Matthew 6:33 “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.” For any of my single friends out there I would recommend the book “The Sacred Search.” A friend recommended it to me and it helped me tremendously.
Life is so much sweeter in community, and I am so blessed by this SRT community! Happy Monday sisters <3
Today’s thoughts of being in community are something I so long for right now. With the COVID restrictions, no church, friends who have family sick or dying from COVID-19, I have had little community in my life. I have a zoom knit night once/week. I watch church but I’m used to being there & helping with the kids. Wealth might be meaningless but friendship and relationships are meaningFUL.
Emma, I’ve been in seasons like you are now, hungry for meaningful friendships. I’m praying with you that God will provide you with friends to do life with and help continue point you to Christ.
Angie, I, too, remember often the handful of people God placed in my life through the years and like you, remember them with a thankful heart. You will be remembered as one who shared freely her love for her Savior and had a heart for serving others. Your comments are always full of wisdom and bless my heart! Thank you for sharing so freely here at SRT!