Ecclesiastes 4:7-12 talks about how a cord of 3 strands isn't easily broken.. a verse used a lot in weddings.... questions like "Who am i struggling for?" and statements like "Two are better than one." Its so hard not to fit these things into a box 📦 labeled "Spouse" But that is not what Solomon is talking about. He mentions at the very beginning of the text "Without even a son or brother..." Relationships .. or in this text "companionship" is referencing family, friendships, and ultimately, community. The people that you can call on when life is dark and heavy. Times when you need someone to go to bat for you. Times when you need encouragement.. Where are you finding community? what are you doing to bring people into your life that are wanting God to be in the center of their life also?

James 1:12 alludes to this. When we read the word "trial" or "test" we underestimate what that actually feels like in real life.. A desire to quit. Getting so tired or fed up with how things are (or aren't) going that exhaustion sets in and you throw up your hand and say "I give up, I'm done." And probably sometime in your life you actually did quit. The emotions were so strong and manifested so deeply in your thoughts to the point your actions following were affected by them. We read our bible.. we read scripture and think, "I got this, I got God on my side".. but then that time comes and our faith is tested... is it as strong as we thought it was, the desire to quit seems to be stronger... What are you doing during those times to keep from quitting? To keep persevering through the trial and test of faith? Mine is in the comments.

Matthew 6:25-34 You are going to fear, have anxiety and worry.. they are emotions that God gave us. But are you letting those emotions manifest in your thoughts to then direct your actions. Jesus tells us to seek God first... Pray first, read scripture first, surrender it first... Let God be first on your mind on how to handle it and let your action follow "and all these things will be provided to you"

1 Kings 19:10-15 Elijah was discouraged. He let his fear and feelings of being alone lead him into isolation. But God sought him out and called him back to go back the way He came... "What are you doing here?" is the question that God asked him not once, but twice. This wasn't a question of curiosity from God.. this was a rhetorical question. What are you doing here bc what I have for you is back there. You aren't going to receive what I have for you if you isolate yourself. If you listen to your flesh... I created this opportunity for you. I knew what was going to happen... but I had something for you regardless. I was going to use you... GO BACK. Is there a time in your life that an opportunity opened up for you but you let discouragement, fear, or a need to isolate take over? If you reframed and saw that opportunity as something God created for you, knowing the obstacles that would be have to be overcome, would that change how you responded???