I have been reflecting a lot lately.Reflecting on the person I use to be, the person I have become , and the person I want to grow into. I don’t look back in regret, but rather, to rejoice in the victories I have had, and continue to have in the Lord. I use to get annoyed with people who would say, “the promises of the Lord apply to you.” While this is true, when you are not experiencing these “promises” or your heart is hard to the blessings in your life, it is frustrating to hear , and it often makes what is meant to be an encouragement , worse. There is a song by Jason Grey, it is called “Not right now.” It is amazing, and it speaks to my heart daily. So, here is my encouragement to you. Or rather a favor. Or both. Yeah, its both:
More often than not, I sit with people in a counseling session, and have experienced this myself. They say, I know rationally, that all of the promises that the Lord has said in his word are true. I get that they apply to me. I am not unaware of these things. But , right now, in this moment, I am in pain. deep pain, often physical , emotional and spiritual. I don’t need you to tell me that things happen for a reason, I don’t need you to say, God has a bigger purpose. I know these things. Or maybe they don’t . Not the point. The point is , we are called to love and bare each other’s burdens. And most often, that simply looks like this : Acknowledging with the person that this moment is painful, and sitting with them in support while it passes. I think that is more “Like Christ” than preaching or spewing a bunch of scripture because you are wanting to take the pain away from the person . Just be with me while I am hurting.
Now, that is not to say that scripture is not relevant. Because it is. I am just saying that maybe God is calling us to be still with the person in certain situations. Gage the relationship. I have both people in my life, the people who will sit with me in hard places and speak hard truths to me when I need it. I am grateful for both.
Be encouraged friends
Rachael
