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He Always Holds Up the Heavy End

    As I write this devotional, I am filled with excitement that in a little over a week, on Friday, November 7, 2003 , my second book will be out.  I say “my book” which is not really true.  It is God’s book, to do with as He pleases.  It is about God and the role He plays in our lives when the going gets tough.

    Remember, how as a child, we loved to help our dads around the house.  We were his “helpers” and nothing brought us greater joy than to think our services were needed.  Probably, if the truth were known, I was more of a hindrance to my dad than anything, but he never let me think that that I was helping him.  He always made me feel real important and needed.

    Sometimes, there were things that needed to be moved—heavy things.  My dad would let me help, but I always remembered he did most of the lifting.  He always held up the heavy end.  He let me think I was lifting, too, but in reality He was doing all the work.  And in the end, when everything was finished, I really felt like I had accomplished something important.

    As I grew older, I had the blessing of having my two sons help me with projects.  I was never the “project expert” my father was, but Wesley, Ryan and I have tackled a few things in our days.  I can see them now as young boys helping me lift something—it was a joy to have their help.  We were “partners.”

    I think God is like that—there are tough times—difficult obstacles in our lives.  There are “projects” to be worked on.  And God lets us help—He lets us think we are contributing.  It is a blessing for us, and I think it gives Him great joy.  That’s what He created us for—to be His partners.  But make no mistake—when the going gets tough—when the load gets more than we can bear—He Always Hold Up The Heavy End.

    Oh, I have gone off on my own, plenty of times.  And when things are going well, I think I am in control—I think I can handle anything that comes along.  I’m not far from God, mind you, but I am far enough away that when tough times come, reality strikes hard….and tough times will come.  And when they do, I run back to God—I hide in the shadow of the cross.  The sins and temptations of this life are too great—the mountains are too high—the clouds are too dark—the fear of death is more than we can bear.  But there at the cross we meet God through His Son, Jesus Christ.  And the promise is that we’ll never be alone—Christ is with us.  And in those moments of loneliness and despair—in the midst of pain and suffering and persecution—in the face of death—He always holds up the heavy end.

    And through Christ, there is victory.  There is hope.  There is strength.

    Will you do something for me?  Will you pray that God uses “He Always Holds Up The Heavy End” as a channel of His grace to reach into the lives of people and proclaim “I am here”.  “I want to be your partner.”  “I want to share your burden.”  Please pray that God will take the ordinary words and stories in this book and use them to make a difference. 

    Thank you, Father, that you are indeed always there for us, and that you always hold up the heavy end.

    Thanks unto God for the hope of Christ, now and forever in our lives.

Love In Christ,
Billy

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