I was reflecting today on a letter that i wrote to a friend in response to a question he asked me. He asked me that if I felt as if i have 'suffered' more than most students here at BBC. My answer was that Yes there have been times when i have thought that most of these people here have no idea what difficulties i have been through. Most here have not had to face hardships that leave them with only one place to go, into the arms of Jesus.
While the above may be true i also told him though that i realize that we all have our own share of trials, and every trial looks differant in every life. God knows exactly what type of trial an individual needs in order to get them to another level of maturity in Christ. For some, trials come in the forms of broken relationships with a significant other, and for that person that trial is just as hard as the trials that i have had with my family. For others, trials come in the form of broken cars, paying college bills, roommates, jobs, broken homes, little friends, drunkness, drug addictions, security or lack there of. The point is God shapes us each differently, he has a seperate tool for each lump of clay in order to get that particular lump into the mold of his perfect son.
Why then is apathy toward trials so relevant in our christian society? I have heard plenty of conversations where someone has poured there heart out to a friend about a circumstance that they are going through and have heard that friend say something to the extent of "Just be glad you don't have to go through this..." And yes sometimes we do need to remind our friends that something could always be worse and that they should look on the bright side...however, maybe that should come long after we have hugged that broken friend and cried with them.
I know that i may see what i might consider to be 'petty' trials in someone elses life and seen them struggle with something so greatly that they can't eat...and think to myself at times..."is that all their going through? Please," i am so guilty of this time and time again because i've been through so much.
The truth is I need to go to that person, put my arm around them, let them cry, and then proceed to pray with them...allowing God to do the healing...allowing Him to work in his own way...I should be more burdened with the burdens of others and be praying for them...I think that is apart of what Paul was talking about when he said "Love another."
"Oh, Lord! I have become so apathetic to my own brothers and sisters in Christ. Please restore in my heart a compassion, love...and the ability to come along side and lift up the arms of someone who has no strength to lift up their own."
3 comments:
thanks for sharing...i understand...kevin and i went through a lot this last week and yet I have been able to be there and encourage others through this...especially my students.. just living it out in front of them and even allowing them to encourage me!
isn't it crazy how easily we become so "egotistical" (i'm not sure that's the right word) that we think nobody else's problems are as bad as our own. i mean, i do think there will always be more hardships in some people's lives than others. but for the most part...someone else's hurts may be just as deep as mine--even though for different reasons. and we are CRAZY to think the things that cause our deep pain are any worse than the things that cause somebody else's deep pain. and wow, i really think it takes wisdom to come to the realization that as the body of Christ--we are there to encourage and exhort eachother--not tell eachother to "deal with it, get over it, and get on". Jesus in Matthew tells his disciples that God loves COMPASSION not SACRIFICE. man do we ever skip over that one!!!! i think sometimes we think everything is about sacrifice. we think love is sacrifice. BUT GOD actually PREFERS COMPASSION! i'm so excited to have learned this.
Yes, this is so true even in my own life. I think that I want the person to heal without letting them get all the feeelings out first. It is the quick and easy fix. I have been affected by my culture and therefore it affects my brothers and sisters in Christ.
Post a Comment