Seems like everybody has their share of stress. Some handle it with grace, others with gripe. Everybody has something. In recent days I've learned that:
Cindy lost her job. Craig lost his spouse. Tim can't seem to sell his house. David lost a dear, influential relative. Michelle has big, constant conflict at home. Alice is elderly and now living alone. Sue is drowning in the payments for childcare. Marcy at age 20 just left an abusive home. Patty's dad died two years ago and she misses him a lot. Randy is in language study far from home. Adrain is confined to a chair due to a dreaded disease. Steve has limited mobility. Peter works out of town. Addiction haunts Mary. Kendra wonders if her dream is completely lost. Rob is suddenly without parents.
On the other hand....Jim got a new job this week. Carl got a better job this week. Mitch got a promotion recently. Jack and Jill are moving into a remodeled house. Herman got custody of his kids. Heather and Heath are happily expecting their first child. Bill got a new set of wheels. Judy got her car back from the repair shop. Jay had enough cash on hand to pay off the unexpectedly high IRS bill. * This is daily life. How are we to help?
One man was deeply moved by his experience at church. He stood and said loudly, "Use me Lord, Use me.....in an advisory capacity."
Back in the day the band America sang, "This is for all the lonely people, thinking that life has passed them by....don't give up until you drink from the silver cup......
Hurting people don't need an adviser or a singer of meaningless songs. They need a listener and prayer warrior. Straight truth.....I walk away from some conversations and ask the Lord, "What is the best thing I can do for my hurting friend right now?" The answer is revealed in Psalm 20. Simply ask God's blessing on their lives. Anybody can do that!
David must have been thinking of a hurting friend when he composed this song.
May the Lord answer you when you are in distress; may the name of the God of Jacob protect you. May he send you help....and grant you support. May he remember your sacrifices..... May he give you the desires of your heart and make all your plans succeed.
This is a pastoral prayer from the heart of a pastor. Prayer for others is one of the best ways of showing love. Don't give advice, don't sing a song, don't share information with others, don't walk away and forget about it.
Walk away asking God to intervene.
Some trust in chariots and some in horses; BUT we trust in the name of the Lord our God.
Some trust in medication, some trust in Dr. Phil, some trust in self help remedies, We trust in the Maker of heaven and earth.
A simple prayer of blessing from a clean heart gets the attention of the Almighty One. Help is soon on the way.
A friend listens. A friend supports. A friend prays.
You will have countless opportunities to be a friend to lonely people this week. People thinking that life has passed them by.
Intercede for their need.
Trusting not in chariots or horses but in the One who sees. MB * Names have been changed to protect privacy.