A Cloud of Witnesses

 “I remember talking to my nephew back when he was in the Marines about his experience in boot camp and on how difficult it was for him. He had said that a one point about five weeks into it, he started to fell real burned out. He said that he never thought of quitting, but his body just couldn't take it anymore and that he felt like he would not make it. I asked him how he got through it and this was his response. “I started reading the letters people were sending me and saw that people were praying and loving me thru these letters. He said he had gotten the letter Arianna and me had sent him. It was a letter that contained the Lord's prayer Arianna had made for him in Sunday school. At the bottom it said, "Please protect my cousin while in the Marines." 

At times we tend to forget that even the simple words in life makes all the difference to someone. We think that we have to do something special all the time, or get “x” amount of attention, or come up with a perfect speech to lift people up. God in His infinite wisdom knows the words that need to be said to someone going thru trials and with His Spirit allows us to express the right sentiments. The writer of Hebrews reminds us in chapter Twelve, “ 

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”‬ ‭(ESV‬‬) 

Jesus knowing everything we go thru and all those who have gone before and trusted in Him are an example, that though life get tough and things may not seem right, we are okay regardless, as long as it’s in Jesus. He knows where we all are and sometimes all it takes is hey, “I'm praying”, or “God loves you”, for us to show God's love to others. We all sometimes get to that stage of our “boot camp” and feel like we will not make it, or that we are just worn out, that the enemy has us defeated. But God sends those words at the right time, that right song, that right message, that right friend and He may just be using anyone of us to convey what needs to be said to each other.” Jose Barajas