Whether we like it our not, sometimes our struggles are visible to others. Some struggles we wear on our sleeve and others hide inside. What if people can see our struggles that we don't see ourselves? I bet that you haven't thought about the weaknesses that you wear on your shirt, but fail to identify it as weakness.

Are we gracious when people point out our weaknesses in a loving way? Sometimes we get offended when other people say that we are doing something wrong. We label the accuser as a judge and cover our ears so that we do not have to be put on trial.

Almost every day is an eventful day at work for me. When you own your own business and employ people, each day has its set of challenges. So today I was watching the employees leave the shop to start their day working out in the field. As the last crew was leaving the shop, I noticed that they had left their trailer door down by mistake. We use enclosed cargo trailers to haul our equipment around, so there is a large door on the back of the trailer. This trailer folds down so that you can ramp your equipment into the trailer.

I watched as the truck and trailer drive by with the door down. As soon as I see what is going on, I start to yell at the truck to stop. Of course, no one hears me. I begin running after the trailer waving my arms to try to get their attention. They continue to pull out of the shop and head down the road. Our shop is next to a highway, so I wanted to get them stopped before the started down the road. I called them on my cell phone and guess what; they didn't pick up. There was nothing I could do. I tried to get their attention in every way that I could. Nothing I did mattered because they were not paying attention to what they were doing.

Right before they turned to get on the highway, they noticed that the trailer door was still down so they stopped and fixed the problem. No amount of screaming or phone calls could get their attention. They had to see their mistake for themselves.

Our struggles are visible to others.

Just like my employees driving down the road with the trailer door open, we may find ourselves doing many things like this in our life. To others, we may look crazy or unorganized. We might be a walking disaster too. No matter what people say or do to us, we may never see our flaws. It may take an act of God to get our attention so that we change directions. We may have to seek spiritual guidance for these things on our own.

When our struggles are visible to others but not ourselves, people may get frustrated with us. They may even think that we don't care. One thing that has helped me in my spiritual walk is to pray for God's wisdom on my life. I am sure that there are many things that God sees, that I don't. I pray for his guidance, and I pray for his hand in my life. When God sees that we need help, he will be there even if we do not ask for it. When our struggles are visible to him and not us, it is comforting to know that he has our back.

Psalm of David

Psalm 23 NASB The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows. Surely goodness and loving kindness will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.