Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.
1 Pet 5:7
Have you ever experienced Pain? Sadness? Loneliness? Depression? Anxiety? Grief? Did someone come alongside to help or comfort you? Who was it that helped you get through that difficult time? Was it a friend, a relative, a counselor, etc. who helped you? No matter what we face it is comforting to know that we are never truly alone. As Christians, we have the assurance of knowing that the God of Comfort is there for us.
2 Cor 1:3-5
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 5 For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.
Even when we face trials, God is there. But we are also called to care for each other. As each of us grows in our relationship with God, and our depth of understanding of who He is deepens, we have an opportunity and a responsibility to care for one another.
1 Cor 12:25
25 so that there may be no division in the body, but that the parts may have the same care for one another.
Have you ever stopped to consider how you can help other people? With everything you have endured in life, you are a resource of comfort and care for others. The lessons you have learned through your life experiences can help others as they face challenges in their lives.
One of the most important things we can realize is that no matter how much we struggle, how deep our pain, how challenging our battle, we are never truly alone when we have Jesus. His presence is constant. He is faithful. He never leaves us. He also equips each of us to comfort and strengthen one another. Do not underestimate how God can use you to help others.
So, how do we know when to help someone else? If you are like I am, many times we are so focused on the sound of our own voice or so busy focusing on our own things that we miss the God assignments placed right before us. When we see someone in need, we expect someone else to help them when in all actuality maybe we are the ones who should be helping them. If all of us in the church would shift our focus away from ourselves toward others, we might see what opportunities God has for us. If we make ourselves available and open to God, He will identify ways in which we can respond.
When it comes down to it, each of us has a calling on our lives that goes beyond ourselves. We are all called to care for one another as we strive to be more like Christ.
Love & Blessings,
Rick Anderson
I totally agree with what you wrote as I am limited to how I can help others physically I can help by praying, sending a card with scripture or my experience of a similar situation Similar to what I may have gone through in the past. Sometimes just a listening ear to let a person vent and giving them a hug and let them know you will pray for them. Food and some financial aid if possible when needed. Also let them know God/Jesus will be with them.
Sometimes all you need to do is just be there, let them know you are praying, stand beside them. You may not understand what they are going through and from personal experience, they may not either but all that is needed is to be acknowledged. You see their pain, their struggles, let them know they are doing a good job trying. Sometimes that’s the best encouragement, that’s what they need to know they are not alone. Be the ear that listens, the reminder that God sees what’s going on. Life is hard, we need Jesus, we need to be Jesus for those in need. We need each other. I believe God puts people in our lives for a reason, it could be for us, it could be for them or maybe it’s both. Just be open to listening to God for opportunities when they arise. Thank you Rick for the above blog.
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13
Man I’m trying, I never give up.
Amen and amen brother Rick!!! And to the comments.