Did you hear the one about the guy who drove his car into a ditch on a
lonely country road? Fortunately, a local farmer came by with his big
strong horse, named Buddy. The farmer hitched Buddy to the car and
shouted, "Pull, Nellie, pull!" Buddy didn't move. Then he hollered,
"Pull, Buster, pull!" Buddy just stood there. Once more the farmer
yelled, "Pull, Coco, pull!" Still nothing. Then the farmer calmly said,
"Pull, Buddy, pull!" The horse immediately stepped forward and easily
pulled the car out of the ditch. The motorist was grateful but very
curious. He asked the farmer why he had called his horse by the wrong
name three times. "Oh!" the farmer replied, "Buddy's blind. If he thought
he was the only one pulling, he wouldn't even try."

Have you ever felt like you were the only one pulling? You aren't alone.
The Old Testament tells us Elijah had those same feelings, "I am the only
one left, and now they are trying to kill me too." -1 Kings 19:10.
It's easy to feel like Elijah or Buddy. Sometimes we get so blinded by our
own problems and circumstances that we can't see those around us who are
still pulling with us. God spoke to Elijah, assuring him that there were
still seven thousand in Israel who had refused to bow down to the pagan
god, Baal. God has reminded me recently that I am not the only one still
pulling. He has given us special friends that are sharing our burdens
and making our load a little lighter.

Are you carrying a heavy load today? Does it feel like you are the only
one pulling? When you hear Him calling, "Pull, Buddy, pull!" Remember,
you're not alone! God hasn't forgotten about you! Know that there are
countless others who have not bowed down to this world's gods. "Therefore
encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are
doing." -1 Thessalonians 5:11.