Helpless.
For me, there is no worse feeling than being helpless. I make myself sick worrying about situations that I can't help with. I woke up this morning to bad news from two different people. Two completely different situations. Two people who I love so so deeply. Two situations that I can't control, or help with in any way, or really even come up with the right words to offer comfort.
There are just some situations where the last thing people want/need to hear are "God has this" or "Keep praying, don't lose your faith" or "God has a plan" or even "I'm praying for you." Those last four words have become so cliche, haven't they? We hear them so often that I feel like it waters down the power of prayer. Every post on Facebook where something bad happens, you see hundreds of comments of "I'm praying for you." But do we really? Do we actually get on our knees and do it?
One of these people told me that she hadn't shared her situation with me because she knew I was going through my own things with Madison leaving. She knows me well enough to know that her problems are mine. Her burdens are mine. When she's hurting, I'm hurting. She said "even though you knew nothing about my situation, every blog post you write is for me. I know other people are reading it and that's fine, but you're writing directly to me. Exactly what I need to hear." She went on to say "...and then I read the post about unanswered prayer and I wanted to punch you in the face. I need mine answered NOW." Oh how my heart is aching knowing that I don't know when/if hers will be answered. I sat silently because I had absolutely no words of wisdom to offer. No comforting words. I was helpless. I am helpless. And I'm sick about it.
Galations 6:4 Share each other's troubles and problems, and in this way obey the law of Christ.
God wants us to share in each others problems. He wants us to have those relationships where we love so deeply that when they hurt, we hurt with them. But HOW? How do I share in their troubles and problems when I can't help? Billy Graham said "Prayer is the Christian's greatest weapon." Sometimes I need to remember that I don't have to say anything at all. Just because I can't come up with the right words, doesn't mean I'm helpless. I don't have to quote scripture to them, or even tell them I'm praying for them. I can just do it. So today, I'm putting into practice my bold, confident, expecting-a-miracle prayers. Where our power ends, God's begins. And His is limitless. I'm so thankful that I have a direct line of communication with the one who's controlling it all. I'm not helpless at all.
There are just some situations where the last thing people want/need to hear are "God has this" or "Keep praying, don't lose your faith" or "God has a plan" or even "I'm praying for you." Those last four words have become so cliche, haven't they? We hear them so often that I feel like it waters down the power of prayer. Every post on Facebook where something bad happens, you see hundreds of comments of "I'm praying for you." But do we really? Do we actually get on our knees and do it?
One of these people told me that she hadn't shared her situation with me because she knew I was going through my own things with Madison leaving. She knows me well enough to know that her problems are mine. Her burdens are mine. When she's hurting, I'm hurting. She said "even though you knew nothing about my situation, every blog post you write is for me. I know other people are reading it and that's fine, but you're writing directly to me. Exactly what I need to hear." She went on to say "...and then I read the post about unanswered prayer and I wanted to punch you in the face. I need mine answered NOW." Oh how my heart is aching knowing that I don't know when/if hers will be answered. I sat silently because I had absolutely no words of wisdom to offer. No comforting words. I was helpless. I am helpless. And I'm sick about it.
Galations 6:4 Share each other's troubles and problems, and in this way obey the law of Christ.
God wants us to share in each others problems. He wants us to have those relationships where we love so deeply that when they hurt, we hurt with them. But HOW? How do I share in their troubles and problems when I can't help? Billy Graham said "Prayer is the Christian's greatest weapon." Sometimes I need to remember that I don't have to say anything at all. Just because I can't come up with the right words, doesn't mean I'm helpless. I don't have to quote scripture to them, or even tell them I'm praying for them. I can just do it. So today, I'm putting into practice my bold, confident, expecting-a-miracle prayers. Where our power ends, God's begins. And His is limitless. I'm so thankful that I have a direct line of communication with the one who's controlling it all. I'm not helpless at all.
"Oh Lord, Oh Lord, I know you hear my cries,
Your love is lifting me above all the lies.
No matter what I face this I know in time,
You'll take all that is wrong and make it right."
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