When we envy the seemingly perfect lives of others, we often forget that beneath the surface, everyone carries their own burdens—burdens that only God can help us bear.
Encouraging Words Devotional
No Need to Envy Others
I once attended the luncheon where the guest-speaker was a well-known, very attractive and talented Christian woman. I remember that she was dressed impeccably that day in an elegant white suit. At that time, I had three young children at home in a very busy schedule. There was no lovely white suit hanging in my closet. At that stage of life, I don't think I could have afforded to buy one. But I did admire this gifted lady who dressed handsomely and spoke to women's groups all over our area. To be honest, I was somewhat jealous of the beautiful life she lived serving Jesus. Not long after that luncheon, however, I heard that this lady's marriage had fallen apart and she was no longer on the speaking tour. The glamour was gone from her life and she was going through dark days. I felt very sad for her. If we really knew the problems other people are dealing with, we would not envy their lives. The leader of a Bible study group asked each of the ladies in her group to make a list of the worries and difficulty she was facing. Then she asked them to tape their list to the wall and to read the list of the others to see if any would like to trade her list with somebody else in the group. No one wanted to trade, not a single one. God fits the problems he allows each of us to what we can handle with his help. He tells us, "Give your burdens to the Lord and He will take care of you. Don't try to solve your problems alone, but know that He will comfort you, encourage you, and be your strength. He will match His provision to the exact help you need." He's promised. You've been listening to encouraging words with Darlene Salah. Visit guidelines.org for more. [music]