What blessing it was Sunday to come together with one another to worship our God and edify one another. I am always encouraged by each one of you. Thank you for your love and faithfulness to God! I know I say this every month, but it really is hard to believe that another month has come and gone and we are in October. We fill focus our “Good Works” theme on Unity for this month, so look for a couple of lessons on that important topic.

It’s hard for us to trust someone who is trying to help us when they don’t understand what we’re going through. I feel unqualified sometimes when dealing with someone who is going through a nasty divorce; someone trying to raise children as a single parent; someone dealing with the loss of a child; or someone who is experiencing chronic pain of some kind. Things I know about but have never experienced it myself. It’s the difference in sympathy for someone or empathy with someone. However, we know Jesus can sympathize and empathize with whatever we’re going through. He knew physical pain. He suffered the most agonizing death imaginable.

Jesus knew emotional and spiritual pain. He had his closest friends forsake him and betray him. Jesus knew stress. His stress didn’t come from a selfish desire for protection, but because he felt an overwhelming burden for other people. Jesus experienced sleepless nights when he would pray and find comfort that only God could give him.