15 You know that everyone in the province of Asia has deserted me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes.16 May the Lord show mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains. 17 On the contrary, when he was in Rome, he searched hard for me until he found me.18 May the Lord grant that he will find mercy from the Lord on that day! You know very well in how many ways he helped me in Ephesus. Amen
Life can get very sad. Some friends can literally vanish from your life when you need them most. They can’t stand your chains. They are ashamed of your many problems now. They WON’T STICK AROUND YOU A SECOND MORE. YOUR CHAINS DISAPPOINT THEM! That is not why they came.
They came because life seemed good for you. The favour on your life was great. Everything you touched was a success. Their own aspirations would see the light of day if they aligned themselves with you. They came so that you will help them carry their burdens, not the other way round. NO THEY WON’T STAY, Lest your chains become their chains too, and your burden, theirs.
Whenever you find yourself at this very sad and cold place in life, don’t cry too much like you used to. Look around for ONESIPHORUS- that one friend that will never leave you. Thank God for his/ her life and pray for him/ her too.
Don’t worry so much on the “phygelus’ and ‘Hermogenes’ that desert you,… atleast it is good you know what kind of friends they are now. The bitterness you bear against them is only tightening your chains, free them in your heart- let them go!
As you thank God for ONESIPHORUS life, God will continue to use Him or her to refresh you everyday until your storm is over and light shines on you again.
Begin to pray for all ONESIPHORUS’S in your life, also pray that God will use you as such for a friend in chains.
Pray for those that deserted you too, God should help them understand that WE NEED EACH OTHER TO SURVIVE THE STORM! TOMORROW MIGHT BE THEIR TURN TO BEAR THE CHAIN!
