Guest Post by Sarah Roberts
Sarah has been on staff with Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) since 2003 serving coaches, athletes, and coaching spouses through speaking, writing, huddles and building relationships. In her time with FCA she has served in many roles including Oklahoma women’s director, the University of Oklahoma’s female chaplain, Oklahoma City Thunder wives chaplain, director for Atlanta/Fayette County, and Atlanta female staff development. Sarah is the author of three devotion books for the female athlete, coach and coach's spouse. As the daughter of a coach, wife of a coach and mom of 5 athletes, God has blessed Sarah with the burden and passion for connecting women in sports to Jesus.
Good Morning, Ladies!
I know we all wake up with hearts that are heavy as our eyes and minds try to process the daily onslaught of bad news. We find ourselves so overwhelmed by the magnitude of suffering going on in our world.
-Afghanistan threatened, scared, and hurting by the Taliban
-Our own soldiers losing their lives while their loved ones are in deep mourning
-Louisiana hit by another Hurricane
-This Global pandemic that is affecting so many of our neighbors, friends, and family
-So many Haitians still homeless after another earthquake
This doesn't even list what you may be facing on a personal level; maybe a personal sickness, loss of a loved one, discouragement in the job etc. We can all be feeling overwhelmed, fearful, anxious and find ourselves Hanging on by a Thread. Good News: if a Thread is all we have, a thread is all we need.
The story takes place in Mark 5 after Jesus had agreed to go back to the home of a Synagogue leader to heal his sick daughter, but while walking something happened:
"A woman in the crowd had suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding. She had suffered a great deal from many doctors, and over the years she had spent everything she had to pay them, but she had gotten no better. In fact, she had gotten worse." Mark 5:24-26
She had tried everything, and nothing worked. She was losing hope that the suffering would end. She was sick. She was tired. She was broke. She was Hanging on by a Thread when it came to life...Can you relate?
"She had heard about Jesus, so she came up behind him through the crowd and touched his robe. For she thought, 'If I can just touch his robe, I will be healed.' Immediately the bleeding stopped, and she could feel in her body that she had been healed of her terrible condition. Jesus realized at once that the healing power had gone out from him, so he turned around in the crowd and asked, "Who touched my robe?" (vs.33) Then the frightened woman, trembling at the realization of what had happened to her, came and fell to her knees in front of him and told him what she had done. 'Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go on peace. Your suffering is over." Mark 5: 27-34
As we look around our world and our bodies are tired, our hearts are hurting, our anxiety levels are at an all-time high, and we find ourselves Hanging on by a Thread, let us learn from this woman. If the thread we are hanging onto is the robe of Jesus, the words of Jesus, and the heart of Jesus; we have all we need to have the hope, love, and peace we so desperately want. Jesus himself says, "In this world you will have trouble, but take heart, I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)
If you are tired...HOLD ON.
If you are weak...HOLD ON.
If you are burdened...HOLD ON.
If you are struggling...HOLD ON.
If you are fearful...HOLD ON.
Hold on and don't let go of the thread, the mustard seed of faith, the shred of Jesus' garment; Jesus is still in control even when the world is in chaos.
HOLD ON to His promises
HOLD ON to His Word
HOLD ON to His Robe
Even if it’s only a thread....don't let go!