Hi there, and welcome to today's encouragement from Our Daily Bread.

Our reading titled Authentic and Vulnerable was written by Po Fong Chia.

Hey, Po Fong, a church friend texted.

For this month's care group meeting, let's get everyone to do with James chapter 5 verse 16 says.

Let's create a safe environment of trust and confidentiality so we can share an area of struggle in our life and pray for each other.

For a moment, I wasn't sure how to reply. While our small group members

have known each other for years, we'd never really openly shared all our hurts and struggles

with one another. After all, it's scary to be vulnerable. But the truth is, we're all sinners,

and we all struggle. We all need Jesus. Authentic conversations about God's amazing grace and our dependency on Christ have a way of encouraging us to keep trusting in Him. With Jesus, we can stop pretending to have trouble-free lives.

So I replied,

Yes, let's do that.

Initially, it was awkward.

But as one person opened up and shared, another soon followed.

Though a few kept silent, there was understanding.

No one was pressured. And we ended the time by doing what the second

part of James chapter 5 verse 16 says. Pray for each other. That day, I experienced the beauty

of fellowship with believers in Jesus. Because of our common faith in Christ, we can be

vulnerable with each other and depend on him and others to help us in our weaknesses and struggles.

Today's Our Daily Bread Devotional Scripture reading is from James chapter 5 verses 13 through 20.

Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray.

Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. Is anyone among you sick?

Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord.

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