Cast your burden on the Lord… Psalm 55:22
That’s why these grocery store lines are so long…”
“They’re laying everybody off!” he said to nobody in particular….
“Really?” asked the woman in front of him.
“I know about layoffs!” he continued…
“I lost my job two-and-a-half years ago.”
“Two-and-a-half years ago…”
“I haven’t worked since.”
“I’m sorry,” said the woman, and quickly turned away.
“Thought I’d retire from there,” he said.
He was several feet away in another line, but I heard him plainly as he continued his monologue.
He wanted somebody to listen. Anybody.
I turned toward the cashier in my line…“Any coupons?” she asked the man in front of me.
“No,” he said.
“I left them at home. I can’t remember anything these days.”
“I was up all night. I haven’t slept in 24 hours.”
“The baby cries a lot…”
The cashier smiled.
“Then there’s work,” he said.
“Somebody didn’t show up. I had to work a double shift.”
He wanted somebody to listen. Anybody.
The cashier looked away, a little embarrassed, as he continued his monologue.
She’d just asked a question…
A simple question.
A long checkout line.
And suddenly, two people were sharing personal details with total strangers.
Two people who hungered for someone to listen…
Someone to care, someone to lift their burden.
Why do we turn to total strangers for comfort?
Do we forget we can turn instead to God Himself ?
Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved. Psalm 55:22
Are our friends and family forced to seek comfort from strangers because we forget that one reason God gives us comfort is so we can comfort others?
He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. 2 Corinthians 1:4
Jesus doesn’t just suggest we love and comfort others…
He commands us to love others…
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. John 13;35
When we follow His command to share God’s love, not only do we help others…
We bring honor and glory to the God who loved us first…
“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:35
