Now the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, “Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent; for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city. Acts 18:9-10 (NKJV)
The Lord sent Paul, but he was still afraid.
You may read scripture and think of Paul as one of the heroes of the faith. And certainly he was. He had a transformation, and he dedicated his life to spreading the Word of God.
The Lord called Paul and entrusted him with a message to share. But Paul wasn’t superhuman. He still had fears.
Do you see how the Lord responds to Paul’s fear? Not only does the Lord tell Paul that He’ll be with him but He also tells him that He has “many people in the city.”
The Lord provided people to support and connect with Paul. It’s the same for us. The Lord is with us. He’s with you, and He’s with me. But, He also knows the importance of people in our lives. He wants us to connect with others, and He places people in our lives for us to do just that.
Are you feeling alone or afraid? Are you struggling to carry a burden on your own?
The Lord is with you, but He also wants you to connect with the people who He’s surrounded you with. He never meant for you to walk alone. Look around. Who has the Lord placed in your life to provide support and connection?
He made us for community, so He’ll provide those people for us. And in some cases, we will become the people for those “Pauls” in our lives. Is there someone who is speaking up and speaking out that needs your support and encouragement? Stand with them.
Action Step
Connect with someone today. Don’t be afraid to reach out…for the support or to be the one to support another.