Listen to today’s devo!

Surely you remember, brothers and sisters, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone. (1 Thess. 2:9)

Expanded Passage: 1 Thessalonians 2:9-10

After opening the funeral service, my husband asked if anyone had something they would like to say. Immediately, a woman from the back row of the chapel stood to speak. Fighting back tears, she told how her life had been a mess, and she had no place to go. The woman being remembered that day in that little chapel had taken her in and given her a place to live. “That was my home for the next six years,” she continued. “She was nothing but kind to me.” And then the tears came, expressions of gratitude at the unselfishness of a woman who had helped to change her life.

When we were serving in Honduras, my mother helped from stateside whenever she could. She had our many photos processed and would send those and other items to work teams who would bring them to us in their baggage. On some occasions a trip to customs was necessary for us to receive packages, like the time she sent a basketball rim which we set up in our backyard, opening opportunities to interact with young men in our community.

Wherever Paul went he faced persecution and Thessalonica was no exception. Despite that opposition, he and his companions worked hard to support themselves, and by doing so helped a church that was facing its own opposition and challenges in a pagan culture.

Let’s ask for vision to see and help meet needs in front of us.

Help someone to carry their load, with God’s help.

Marcy Burke enjoys living in Alabama, being a retired pastor’s wife, former missionary, and worship leader. She enjoys playing the piano and taking long walks with her husband, Larry.

© 2026 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.