Dear Friend,              

The devotional writer Oswald Chambers once offered these wonderful words:

“We are to have staying power in the alarm moments of other peoples lives.”

Alarm moments are tough moments, moments that require us to cope and that grip us with fear. They face us with loss and hold us in uncertainty.

Staying power is  the capacity of hanging in there with someone. It’s the art of “being there, of staying faithful.”

The Hebrew word “hesed”, often translated as kindness, faithfulness or love, may be understood as “I will never withdraw my love from you.” That’s staying power!

If you know someone experiencing an “alarm moment,” be the friend that “sticks closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24) – and keep on sticking as long as the alarm moment lasts!

If you are experiencing an alarm moment in your own life, remember the words of Jesus, “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you”John 14:18*

Jesus has real staying power. Know for certain that He is with you right now.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and theGod of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.” II Corinthians1:3-4

Joy to you – E. Stanley Ott

©Copyright 2019E. Stanley Ott

*Scripture from the ESV

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1. Recall alarm moments in your own life - or one you are experiencing now. What about the situation would lead you to call it an alarm moment?
2. Who are the people who stood with you in such a moment? What have they done that was or is helpful to you?
3. Think of a person you know who is in an alarm moment right now. What will you do to "be there" for that person? What will "staying power" to remain supportive of that person mean? What will be the challenges? The rewards?