Jessica Albritton, NextGen Minister LHBC

Proverbs 3:5-8
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
    and do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge him,
    and he will make straight your paths.
7 Be not wise in your own eyes;
    fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.
8 It will be healing to your flesh
    and refreshment to your bones.

When I was in college I rolled my ankle pretty bad and had to use crutches in order to keep off of it. The first couple of days were rough! It was hard to get around and the crutches were super uncomfortable. After a few days of struggling with the crutches a friend took a look at them and asked if he could adjust them. I was really confused but I told him to go ahead. He started loosening a screw on the leg of the crutches and made them shorter! I had no idea that was even possible! I picked up the crutches, newly adjusted to fit my exact height, and it was like night and day different. I could actually move around on them. 

A crutch is something that you lean on when you’re hurt or weak. It’s a source of support or assistance. Crutches can be physical, like the crutches I had to use in college, or like a friend that you depend on when you find yourself going through a hard time. We all resort to using a crutch when life becomes difficult. 

Jeremiah 17:9 states, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” In Proverbs chapter 3 Solomon writes, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.” We cannot rely on our hearts to direct us because we are a broken people flawed by sin. We are weak and flawed but the Lord is trustworthy, He has proven His faithfulness time and time again. As believers we are to lean on the Lord. He is to be our crutch, or source of support, in life. 

Life can be pretty difficult, we will go through some rough seasons. The Bible is clear that in all situations, good or bad, we are to look to the Lord for guidance and counsel. The passage in Proverbs goes on to say that the Lord makes straight paths for all those that acknowledge Him. This doesn’t mean that if we look to the Lord we will have an easy life and never have any problems, but it does promise that if we look to God for guidance we can walk confidently in the right direction. 

What is your go to crutch when life gets crazy? Are you leaning on the Lord? 

PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Heavenly Father, thank you for your goodness and your faithfulness. When life gets hard, help me to resist the human urge to fix it all on my own and lead me to lean on you! In Jesus name, amen!

MEMORY VERSES OF THE WEEK:
Matthew 11:28-30
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”