A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken. (Ecclesiastes 4:12 NLT)

If you were to look through the photos I take of my kids you may think I keep a semi clean household. What you don’t realize is that I try and clear an area big enough to give the appearance of a semi clean house, or crop out the mess. I don’t want people to know about the stacked up dishes in the kitchen and the landmine I like to call the living room. I mean no one wants to be known as the next featured crazy on hoarders.

I find that I apply the same principle to my Spiritual life. As long as my relationship with God looks tidy from the outside I won’t have to worry about others judging me. I don’t want those around me to know about the times that I had a screaming match with God, or when I felt like my faith was being tested beyond my limits. It is easy to post some scripture on my facebook and look like things are just spiffy between God and I, when instead I am confused and wondering why we are going through certain life events. And asking and questioning those things publically is scary, and intimidating because when we see our friends lives all we can see is their cropped images.

It is in those times when we are trying to censor what others see that we in fact need them in our lives all the more. As Christians we are stronger when we are together. By allowing others into our lives, no matter how messy those lives may be we are able to encourage one another in the faith.

A cord of three is stronger than just one string. Having people around you to build you up, and being a strength for someone else is what makes Christianity so wonderful.

Prayer

Lord, give me the strength to share the whole picture with those around me. Put other Godly women into my life so we can build each other up and strengthen one another. Give us the wisdom to join with others and not stand alone. Amen.

When we allow others into our mess and we join each other in prayer for our daily struggles we will become stronger in our relationship with God. When you are feeling alone in the everyday remember that you are not the only one who feels this way. God created us for relationships, so we don’t have to feel alone in our struggles.