At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them! But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it.
2 Timothy 4:16-17
Lord Jesus, how many times can I say this was the case for me? When I was going through, needing a shoulder to lean on, yet finding myself alone, or worse, having to be the shoulder for others, neglecting myself? In the midst of loss, or struggle, or weakness, how many times have I found myself looking around for some support from somewhere, only to find no one present? Or finding that that which is present is not sufficient for the moment? Yet, in all circumstances, You have always been there and have provided abundance for the moment, supplying me with all that I stood in the need of, bridging the gap, strengthening me in order that I might stand for the purpose of being used to help somebody else. Lord, that is the theme for me today. In Your grace You reminded me on this Maundy Thursday that after praying fervently about the torment You were about to endure, You were betrayed by one whom You loved with a kiss, a sign of affection. He was not standing with You. And then the others, whom Your Word declares that You, “…loved them to the end,” left You and fled when the going got tough. Even the one who said he would never abandon You, denied You three times before the light of day broke. You were alone, by Yourself, while standing in the gap for us. You were abandoned. Rejected. In complete solitude. Forsaken. Yet, You never leave us alone! You never desert us! You never abandon us and force us to endure the consequences in isolation. No. You are always there. Standing with us – standing with me. Strengthening me. Encouraging me. Loving me. Lord, help me today to be to others what You are to me. Help me to demonstrate Your love in a tangible way, standing with someone else and being the shoulder they need to lean on. Forgive me for those times when I was not that, and help me to make it up to someone now. Hold me up that I might hold someone else up. Use me as You see fit. I pray this in Your Name. Amen.