In a weekly church column usually published in the Medway Messenger, Chris Gill, Pastor at King’s Church, Gillingham, looks at how what's on the outside isn't always what's going on underneath.

A few years ago, in my then home town, a double decker bus drove along a road near to the High Street.

This was nothing new, it was something that it had done on many occasions without incident. However, on this occasion something surprising happened. With no warning the road surface suddenly gave way and the bus partially toppled into a large hole that had opened up beneath it.

Nobody was hurt and the bus was soon removed relatively undamaged, but on investigation, the issue was found to be soil erosion just below the road surface. A water pipe had started to leak and over many months the leak had washed away all the soil in the surrounding area, just under the tarmac.

On the surface the road looked as good as new, but just below the surface, the strength provided by the soil had gone and there was in reality a large hole waiting for an unsuspecting bus to fall into.

How was the hole exposed? The road surface simply gave way when enough pressure was applied.

A similar thing can happen in our lives. We can look perfectly fine on the outside. The version of ourselves that we show others can look good, but just below the surface you feel washed out, your strength has gone, and you know that you are close to cracking if pressure is applied.

Certainly, the pressures brought on by this passing pandemic have been heavy and far reaching for many.

If you feel close to collapse, don’t despair, I have some good news for you.

Jesus said "Come to me those who weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest."

There’s a rest that is only available when Jesus is our burden bearer. If you cast your cares on Him, He will lighten the load and start to strengthen you again from the inside. The Bible says that we should not be anxious about anything but in everything by prayer and petition present to Him our requests.

Perhaps the only thing you have the strength to say to God at the moment is "Please help me."

Why not give it a go? Strength often takes time to return and this is not an overnight fix, but the best bit of that verse I have just quoted is the last bit, "and the peace of God which goes beyond our understanding will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."

There’s a peace available to all of us that only God can provide if you ask Him for it. Now that’s good news!

If you would like to find out more about Churches Together in Medway or what it means to

become a Christian, please contact the chairman Pastor Stephen Bello on 01634 920491 or email chair@medwaychurch.co.uk

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