Now that we know what we have—Jesus, this great High Priest with ready access to God—let's not let it slip through our fingers. We don't have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He's been through weakness and testing, experienced it all—all but the sin. So let's walk right up to Him and get what He is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help. –Hebrews 4:14-16 (Message Bible Translation)
Good Morning Friend,
Have you ever felt like "who really cares"?
Well I know I have and probably more times than I care to remember. You know its funny how people will say "hey I'm here for you", "call me if you need me" or "I'll be there for you until the end" only for you to actually be in need one day and call…but there's no help. This can be very hurting, especially if you are like me and would rather not bother people with your problems and you push yourself to take those people up on their offer…all to get the door slammed in your face. You see, I personally would rather work my own problems out with the least involvement from others possible. That's how I've always been. But there are times when I just need someone to talk to…not pay a bill, not to borrow money or a cup of flour from…but to simply
The bible says in Romans 15:1 that "We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves." Meaning that if our brother or sister in Christ (or anyone for that matter) comes to us with a problem, no matter how great or how small they should not leave us feeling like they are alone! Neither should we get pleasure out of our brother or sister going through a problem, hardship, heartbreak, etc. "But I'm going through and have problems of my own" and to you I say SO WHAT! I have found that when I'm in the midst of a pit, the quickest way out of my moment of depression and sorrow is to help someone else through their problem. Sometimes I may not be able to offer anything other than a listening ear, but by doing so God begins to lift me up and becomes stronger in me and consequently strengthens me to be what I need to be for my friend, loved one or maybe even a perfect stranger at that moment. Moreover, when it's all said and done 99% of the time I walk away with a renewed strength, joy and frame of mind because while I was working on someone else's behalf—God was working on mine. Furthermore, because I was not selfish in the time of someone else's need, my need got met at the same time. I'm convinced that people who are hurting and want to reach out for deliverance, freedom and restoration would take off their "I'm alright and got it altogether" masks if they knew that they would have someone who would cover them with their love and understanding; rather than look down on them and judge or measure them by where they are rather than where they are going or the potential that rests on the inside of them (Bishop Bennett, thanks for that revelation that you dropped on Resurrection Sunday! That was some life changing stuff!!!).
Watch this…most of us would take the Romans 15:1 scripture and say well I'm weak right now, I'm in a horrible mess myself, I cant even help myself right now, so how can I help someone else? Believe me, I know how it feels to be burned out and on the edge of breaking down but its not how I feel at a particular moment that makes me strong—its what I have on the inside of me that makes me strong and able to withstand whatever I am faced with. You also need to know that there will be times when you will feel abandoned, all alone and like no one understands, feels your pain or even cares to. But I speak to you just as the Apostle John spoke in 1 John 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because GREATER IS HE THAT IS IN YOU THAN HE THAT IS IN THE WORLD! When you are down to nothing, when you are weak and in despair—you need to remember that I've got something down within me that makes me strong, makes me great, makes me smarter, it even makes me wiser. It encourages me when I'm down and pushes me when I'm ready to give up. What can do all this you may ask…it's God and his precious spirit and all you have to do is access or pull from what is inside of you to make it through. Whenever you feel like giving up, remind yourself "I've got something GREATER in me than what I'm facing or am in right now!"
God convinces me more and more as I live and grow that there is NOTHING that I can or will face in life that He won't strengthen me to go through. Remember God's strength is made perfect in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). Meaning God is at His best when we don't have the strength to fight anymore. Have you ever been in a situation where you were trying to break up or intervene in a fight or argument? You go to pull your friend or one of the parties away to end the fight but they are so pumped up that they end up beating you up more than their opponent. Sometimes you can control the person and sometimes you can't. So what do you do? To avoid your lip, eye or head from being busted, you loose the individual(s) until they get tired and then you are able at that point to pull the person(s) back, come to their rescue or be able to have your voice heard because now they are weak, out of breath and are starting to "come to themselves." It's the same way with God, He sometimes has to stand back until we "come to ourselves" and become so tired of fighting on our own until we believe, trust and lean solely on him! So the flip side of it all can be that sometimes God doesn't want us to lean and depend on anybody else but him, so he will allow us to face destitute times, loneliness and the such to get us to a place where we find rest and comfort in him…because he understands and HE CARES!
Friend, there is no pain that we can feel that Christ hasn't already felt and isn't willing to see us through. There is no hurt that we can experience that Christ has not felt and cannot heal, neither a void that we can experience that He doesn't understand is not able and very capable of filling. God loves you and cares for you so much—never let anything you face in life tell you or make you feel otherwise. I understand now with even greater appreciation when the Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 8 "Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Yes, at times we need (and desire) that human touch, that listening ear, that heart of compassion from those around us. But if you never get that you will always have it in Jesus! Moreover, the best way to overcome that feeling of loneliness, abandonment and sadness is to become to other what you always wished others would become to you. Before you know it, you will find that someone really does care for you and that you are not the only one who has experienced bad and evil.
Who cares? I
Much Love,
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