Walk With Me

I heard a word tonight that I have not heard in a long time. Undergird. I pondered it on the way home, mulled over it as I tucked children into beds a little later than usual, studied it over a glass of lemonade. What does it mean? "To support or strengthen from beneath, to give fundamental support, to make stronger." What a powerful word. In typical use, a boat would be undergirded by passing ropes or chains under it as a means of strength and support during rough weather to secure it to shore.

After hoisting it on board, they used supports with ropes to undergird and brace the ship; then afraid that they would be driven into the Syrtis [quicksands off the north coast of Africa], they lowered the gear (sails and ropes) and so were driven along.

Who or what is undergirding you during your storms? Are you being washed out to sea? Is there someone to come along and wrap their arms around you and be a source of strength? Yahweh should be our ultimate source of strength, but He created and knows us, and because He knows us, He often uses His people to minister to each other. Some of us (ahem!) are a bit more reluctant  to accept His undergirding. We may require some gentle shoves into the embankment or a gusty wind to see how needed the reinforcement is.

Psalm 94:18
I cried out, “I am slipping!” but your unfailing love, O Lord, supported me.

1 Peter 5:9-11

New Living Translation (NLT)

9 Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters[a] all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are.

10 In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation. 11 All power to him forever! Amen!

Often during prayer, I will see two or three walking together, arms looped, speaking and praying the Word of the Lord. They are undergirding the one praying, walking beside the,them, encouraging them, giving them strength, cheering them on. We should all rally around others in the faith and "hoorah" a little more. We might be surprised what happens when we answer their request: "Would you walk with me?"

Let me cheer you on to be an undergirder this week. Come alongside someone and give them a pat on the back or an arm to lean against. And if you, like me, struggle to allow people that position in your life, because it requires vulnerability and transparency, accept one offer for support, and allow Yahweh to use your vulnerability to benefit another. He can, and He wants to. You just need be available and open to His leading.