Strong Shoulders

Our dear friend, Sue, called me this past week, and I was with a repairman at our home, so I told her that I would call her back. When I returned her call, she told me that she was listening to David Jeremiah’s message this morning, and he had a quote that was meant for her and me.

Dr. Jeremiah said, “God does not put trouble on weak shoulders.”

Certainly, Sue has strong shoulders as she has experienced so much tragedy in the past few years. She lost both her adult children within 18 months, and a couple years later she lost her husband. She was eternally grateful, but presently sad when she lost each of her family members. All of them walked with the Lord, and she knows that they are still walking with the Lord.

She is a strong-willed lady from rural West Virginia with strong shoulders to bear all the tragedy of the losses of her family, but she also has a relationship with Jesus that sustains her through difficult days.

Because of mobility issues, Sue only leaves her home for doctor visits. Other than a few cousins who do not live near Sue, she has no other family. But she has the most amazing neighbors who buy groceries for her and pick up her prescriptions. She has a few close friends who also help her.

God has gifted Sue with strong shoulders to bear the tragedies in her life. Sue lives an hour and half from our home, but we go frequently to visit her. I have never arrived in her home to see a sad face on Sue. She is always smiling and spreading cheer to anyone who comes into her home.

Like the people of Israel in the tenth chapter of Isaiah, Sue has been overwhelmed with tragedies and anguish. God promised the people of Israel that they would not be completely destroyed when the mighty power of Assyria fell on them. God did not promise that the Israelites would be spared any harm. Today God does not tell us that our journey here on earth will be easy, but He does promise that He will prepare us for any harm or tragedies in our lives, and He will give us strong shoulders to bear those hard times.