Together We Thrive

 I Am With You Heart and Soul!

By Angela Stuck, Yorktown, VA, USA

When I think of a thriving partnership in the OT that tackled great things for God, I think of Jonathan and his armor bearer. They were a spiritual power house. The odds were stacked against them, but together they overcame the odds, with God’s help!

Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 14:1-7, 14-15

The armor-bearer’s response in verse 7 sounds more eloquent in the Hebrew - literally it means: “I am with you like your heart is with you.” This constitutes a pledge of unwavering support for whatever actions Jonathan might take. This degree of loyalty would be needed, especially in view of Jonathan’s blueprint for action. (Bergen, R. D. (1996). 1, 2 Samuel (Vol. 7, p. 156). Broadman & Holman Publishers.)

They were facing an impossible task. It was the two of them against an army of Philistines. Nothing about Jonathan’s plan made sense. It defied all military logic. Why was his armorbearer so loyal? What did he see? What prompted him to have such a deep level of respect for Jonathan?

Perhaps Jonathan’s faith in God inspired his armor-bearer. Jonathan knew God was in control, not him. Maybe Jonathan recalled Joshua - and his dying words to Israel’s leaders in Joshua 23:2-3 “I am now old and well advanced in years. And you have seen all that the Lord your God has done to all these nations for your sake, for it is the Lord your God who has fought for you.” And Joshua 23:10-11 “One man of you puts to flight a thousand, since it is the Lord your God who fights for you, just as he promised you. Be very careful, therefore, to love the Lord your God.”

I dearly desire to imitate Jonathan and his faith, but in all honesty I can be more like Saul, who instead retreated to a distant pomegranate cave, safely out of the way. The last three years has been tough for everyone. I remember being excited to welcome 2023. I was excited to see all that God would do; I was excited to begin seeing more victories than hardships; I was excited to see the battles behind me. That was not the case. 2023 ended up being one of the most challenging of my 28 years as a Christian. Challenges quickly mounted to include helping my husband as he grieved the death of his sister and step-father, transitioning my mother from our home to an assisted living facility to meet her increasing needs, moving my daughter and her family (including 2 grandchildren!) 2500 miles away as they began a new role of leadership in fellowship of churches. In the midst of all of this, I wanted to stay in the cave. I didn’t want to be the one to lead anyone in battle. I also didn’t see many people wanting to take risks for God. But staying in the cave wasn’t going to help me or anyone else around me to embrace greater faith. I am so grateful for the women in my life who did give their hearts to me and were willing to stand firm to make faithful decisions. I would not be where I am today without women who were with me “heart and soul”. This past year has been a year of transition and refinement, and I am looking forward to seeing all that God will do in the years to come.

God fights for us - Jonathan knew this. His armor bearer, fueled by trust, was willing to go with him. While the rest of the army slept, these two men did something courageous and God provided a miracle for them. (1 Sam 14:23)

Reflection Questions: Who are faithful women in your life who trust God’s sovereignty and are willing to take leaps of faith to do great things for God? Let them know you feel that way about them. And let them know that you’d like to do something faithful with them.

What fears tempt you to stay in the “cave”? How can you overcome those fears?

Prayer: Take a moment to write down the names of the “Jonathan’s” in your life and pray for them. Pray to imitate the faithful partnership Jonathan and his armor bearer had. Write a letter of gratitude to God for the Godly relationships He has placed in your life.

About the Author: Angela Stuck currently leads the Hampton Roads Christ alongside her husband, Corey. Together Corey and Angela have 3 children: Alexa (married to Coleman), Ryan and Jordan. She became a christian in Northern Virginia in 1995. After serving in Hampton Roads, their family moved to Richmond, Virginia and then to London, England where they served on the mission field for the London Church of Christ. Their adventure with God led them back to Richmond and then home to Hampton Roads for the past 5 years. Angela loves serving God’s people alongside her many friends. She is currently enjoying her new roll as a Grandparent (aka “Lula”) and has a handsome grandson and beautiful granddaughter to shower with love.