A Christian man I know said he had so much compassion for the poor, hopeless people of this world that it made him sad, like, all the time.
He cried for poor, lonely people, prayed for them, of course, too. And over time I watched him become, well, paralyzed. He felt so sad, so much 'compassion,' that he became overwhelmed and could think of little else besides how vast numbers of people are being mistreated and having hard lives.
He became mad at Christians who didn't do enough and at his own limitations and ended up helping no one.
Another Christian, a woman author, says she feels great compassion for single mothers having rough times and teens, too, who are wandering so far from God. She often comes across these people, and unlike the man above, at least she gives to them what God nudges her to give, be it money or gifts or just the right words they need to hear. So that's wonderful, but she always feels it's never enough. And the majority of her years she's spent in sadness--if she's not grieving emotionally for herself, she's grieving for/with others in trouble. Usually both.
In everything, there is balance, as well as seasons. A time to weep with those who weep--yes! But that season is not 24/7 all the days of our lives, for the Bible also adds there's a time to rejoice and dance and praise God with joyful songs and to see good days.
True, godly hope--I think that's what may be missing in the hearts of those sad, 24/7 weepy Christians who say they're just extra compassionate.
I mean, godly hope is full of anticipation! Pray some prayers with godly hope and you'll look forward to their being answered. To you, it's just a matter of time and--in the meantime--you can hold onto that anticipation that God will come through.
And that is what matters most--that I believe God will come through and save the day, heal the hurt, become the friend who sticks closer than a brother. Not that I rush around, by myself, trying to save the world and be the all in all for the whole silly Planet. Uh, no. (That may sound funny, but I've known people who believe they are called to do that.)
No, I cannot help every single poor, downcast person in this world, but then, God would never ask one person to do so! (Personally, I don't believe He'd put the burden of the whole world upon one single heart, either.) We all have different callings, we are each a necessary piece in this huge puzzle.
What remains is for each of us to do his/her own small part in meeting those needs, so that in turn, all needs will be met.
And if God asks us to do a thing? He'll enable us to complete it. It will get done without leaving us prostrate, exhausted, sick upon a couch, all helpless. God isn't mean or foolish like that. Always, God sends Grace along to help lift and encourage us.
If He's asking us to help three people, then He'll equip us to help three people. But we're being foolish if we allow ourselves to throw up our hands, to become paralyzed because we're unable to help three million souls, instead. Or the whole neighborhood, the entire town or the complete county.
With obedience, comes joy, which then becomes our strength to complete any task in season or out. And always, God is enough.
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The goal is never that we become anyone's everything. That goal is God's, alone.
"And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him." ... Hebrews 11:6
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The Fourth of July!
When I was 14, our church gathered to celebrate the 4th on the patch of lawn very near the parsonage where my family and I lived (my dad being the pastor).
On that early evening we girls dished up our potluck plates inside the church kitchen then carried them outside where we sat upon wood-slatted fold-up chairs, laughing and chatting about the church boys in attendance and those who were not.
When the skies darkened, the ladies served homemade strawberry ice cream and I still remember that sweetness and all the love which surrounded me, those good people upon those chairs around me, accepting and loving me just as I was.
Until we attended that church, I'd never felt that kind of love, and on that night, it was magnified.
Then the fireworks in the park across the street began. Boom! And sparkles and colors and the emotion I felt choked me, but nicely, and I knew I'd never forget that night--and I never have. Each 4th of July I polish that memory, and other similar ones, and keep them shining.
I know some people today who feel that, ok, it's all right to spend Independence Day with friends and family, but you'd better also spend some time thanking God for our freedoms as a Nation (or else!). And you'd sure better fly a flag or you're positively un-American. And on Memorial Day and Veteran's Day you'd better fly that flag, too, and thank a veteran and spend the whole day feeling somber, though grateful, for all those who have gone on before us.
And if you don't pass their thoroughly Thankful, Somber Patriotic American Test? Oh my. You are in trouble, Sister. Instant silent, seething displeasure (or not so silent.)
I feel bad for those stressed-out mama's trying to make this huge, huge world obey them. All those Holy Ghost Wannabes racing around telling us how to feel, how to think right thoughts. Their thoughts. The only proper thoughts (according to them).
But oh, the peace of personal obedience, of policing our own selves, our own thoughts and daily asking God, "What would you like to change in me today?" For the only person we can change, can make obey, is ourselves (God making those changes. And good luck getting it right 100% of the time.)
We can live lives which inspire others to change and we can share our own stories and think our own thoughts. But to use hammers of "you shoulds" and "you oughts" to beat people over the head? Well, we can try, but hammers create opposite effects when we force good behavior, when we rip away peoples' freedoms to think and do for themselves.
Not even God does that, you know. Nor should we wonder why our own heads ache when we do use that hammer on others' heads.
So celebrate the 4th as you will today, or don't celebrate. Have a picnic or recline inside, watch fireworks or slip into bed early. Think or don't think grateful thoughts. But as for me, I'll recall that summer night of my 14th year and I'll think gratefully of the freedoms I still have and for the God who has given me this wonderful Life and His amazing, freedom-inventing self.
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Happy 4th of July to all my faithful readers!
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The best thing I ever, ever did in my whole life? In 1994 I fell passionately in love with Jesus.
That's it. Oh, and I stayed in love with Him. That's important. No, vital.
It's the staying in love that gets you through all the painful pruning He does. Snip. Snip. Ouch! Snip.
It's the staying in love which helps you forgive people and circumstances and yes, God Himself, when He uses everything to test you. To see if what He spent weeks teaching you sunk in this time and became a solid, permanent part of you.
It's the Love Place where you can go when you feel insecure, then feel insecure no more because God reminds you how much you're loved. Today. This moment.
It's the Love Place which eventually expands, spreading to give you a peace which travels with you, even to the deadliest battle lines.
And it's that Love Place, the God sitting there waiting for you, that brings a sweetness, a we'll-get-through-this, which wraps around your heart, buffering the hardest blows and reminding you of the love that is behind all the death, all the growth, all the becoming.
And it's from that Love Place where you can reach out to others and share what you discovered there.
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"He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty." ... Psalm 91:1
