Daily Word of Grace #16 (April 7, 2020)
Recently we lost another brilliant songwriter, the legendary Bill Withers, whose hits included “Ain’t No Sunshine”, “Lovely Day”, “Just the Two of Us,” and a song all of us know, “Lean on Me”, a high octane gospel song: “Sometimes in our lives we all have pain, we all have sorrow. But if we are wise, we know that there’s always tomorrow. Lean on me, when you’re not strong, and I’ll be your friend, I’ll help you carry on. For it won’t be long ‘til I’m gonna need somebody to lean on.” At the Last Supper Jesus told his disciples, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Earlier Jesus gave this gracious invitation to all of us when “we all have pain, we all have sorrow”: “Come to me all you that are weary and carrying heavy burdens and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:28-29). In other words, Jesus’ words to you echo Bill Withers, “Lean on me, when you’re not strong, and I’ll be your friend, I’ll help you carry on.” Moreover, in the meantime, we can be at peace because just as he assured his disciples at the Last Supper, Jesus indeed overcame the world (and sin and death) through his death and resurrection, which gives us hope because indeed “there’s always tomorrow.”
Love and Prayers,
Dave