Psalms 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
DAILY READING; John 4:1-26; 1 Chronicles 15:1-16:6; Zechariah4
In Japan, just as couples come together in a wedding ceremony, they also hold a divorce ceremony to dissolve their marriages.
The key differences in the two ceremonies is that a divorce dress for a woman differs from a wedding dress; instead of wearing a white dress, she now wears a yellow dress.
And the divorce ring ceremony isn’t an exchanging of rings but a destroying of rings. Instead of holding a knife to cut the cake together as they did in their wedding, the couple hold a hammer together and smash their wedding rings.
Smashing their wedding rings is a way of saying they are literally crushing their chances of reconciliation.
After the divorce ceremony, they go to the court to get the legal dissolution of their marriage and then go their different ways.
In 2011 there was a sudden increase in the number of divorce ceremonies in Japan.
This was traced to the devastating tsunami and earthquake that struck Japan in March 2011.
What happened was that in the wake of the tragedy, people faced a lot of difficulties as businesses were destroyed and many lost their jobs.
This tough condition created tension in many homes and marriages.
Eventually, this resulted in the rate of divorce ceremonies in Japan suddenly tripling in the months after the tsunami.
It is indeed remarkable that a time of difficulty was when many of these couples chose to go their different ways.
Relationships are often likened to a ship. Some people get on and off board very easily. Some will stay on board as long as everything is sailing smoothly; but if the weather becomes rough, they will abandon the ship.
However, a true friend is the one who will stick with you through the stormy weathers.
Certainly, adversity is the test of true friendship.
Proverbs 17:17 says “A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.”
Every brother may not be a friend, but the friend who sticks with you though adversity becomes like a brother.
Then, there is a friend who sticks even closer than a brother.
This is the one who can sacrifice everything, even his own life for the sake of his friend.
That is the kind of friend Jesus is to us.
In John 15:15-17, Jesus said ‘Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.’
Jesus proved His love and friendship by laying down His life to save us. He shed His Blood to deliver us. And He Has promised to never leave us nor forsake us.
Friendship with Jesus is the only unsinkable ship in life.
As we sail through the unstable waters of human relationships, it is good to know that there is One who will always be there for us.
He is our Jehovah Shammah, the Lord who is there.
He is our help from ages past.
In the toughest of battles, in the darkest of nights, He is always there. He is our ever present help in times of trouble.
He is our rock, our high tower, our shield and our buckler.
He is our provider, our healer, our defender, and refuge.
No matter how tough any situation you may face today, be rest assured that Jesus is ever able to see you through.
As you stay close to Him through diligent study of the Word and prayers, He will certainly turn every test into your testimony.
Indeed, Jesus is a faithful friend to the very end.
This is why we should invest in building a solid relationship with Him above everything else. Certainly, His Presence makes all the difference and through Him we can do all things..
PRAYER:
Lord, I am grateful that You are ever with me no matter what situations I may face in life. Thank You for always fighting my battles and being my ever present help in times of need in Jesus’ Name.
QUOTE;
You will never need more than God to experience the impossible in life. WORDBITE 222.