“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” – Luke 6:38, NIV
Will always loved to do Christmas big. He’d spend hours searching for the perfect gift for his sons and putting holiday lights on the house. But that wasn’t all he did. He also took time every Christmas season to volunteer at a local soup kitchen. Will brought his kids along so they could understand how blessed they were.
He organized a group who provided gifts and stocking stuffers for the kids of single parents. He visited the homeless, often driving through the streets with an extra hot meal or two in the passenger seat.
Then came the Christmas when things changed. Will’s wife was diagnosed with breast cancer. A week later, Will’s company laid him off, and the couple lost their health insurance.
Will had always been frugal, and the couple had a small fund set aside for a crisis. But even with six months of savings, Will knew it wouldn’t be enough. They’d only be able to carry the medical costs for a few weeks.
When the news spread, the community around Will moved into action. One couple provided Christmas gifts for the family. Another supplied their groceries for a month. A single father that Will had helped reached out to him to tell him about a job opening at his company.
Hardship can happen to anyone. For you, it might be a car accident, unexpected illness, or the loss of a loved one. But God can sustain you through the pain. He can send a sweet community to surround you on every side.
Prayer:
Lord, I’m struggling. It feels like everything has gone wrong. I’m worried that You’ve abandoned me and I’m scared. Please comfort me right now. Send a spirit of peace over me, and a loving community to surround me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
