Seeking Gentleness

Today I stood in church after the close of the service hearing the sounds of people milling around and visiting with one another.  My heart started to ache and tears came to my eyes.  I thought to myself about how any of these people could be hurting deeply inside.  

Hurting people are all around us each day.  The mother next to you with the little baby could be struggling with post-partum depression.   That couple over there might be struggling in their marriage.  There might be struggles with porn, or there could be silent enduring of emotional abuse day after day. 

People often put on masks to hide their pain.   They often don’t know what to do, and all too often in Christian circles hurting people figure that as a Christian they shouldn’t feel terribly sad or anxious.  They may feel that their sadness or their struggles are a result of sin in their lives and that it’s all their fault, and they may feel ashamed.  They may feel desperate, trying harder and hard to do what they perceive to be the right thing to do, and things don’t get better.   They may be sinking deeper and deeper down afraid to cry out for help.

It’s overwhelming to think of all the hurting people in the world.  Dear Father, I wish I could help.  I want so badly to help.  I want to be Your hands, dear Jesus, to help others in need.  Please work through me. 

Please know that God loves *you*.  He sent His son to die for you and to pay the penalty for your sins.  You have only to believe in Him — and even this faith is a gift from Him.   He doesn’t want you to fail.  He wants to lift you up in His lap and carry you in His arms and give you rest and peace. 

As His child you are FORGIVEN.  Completely forgiven.  When God your Abba Father, your Daddy, looks at you, He doesn’t see a dirty, icky person.  He sees you through Jesus, and you are His own, holy, justified, forgiven.  You can come boldy to His throne of grace and seek help in time of need.  He is listening, and even now Jesus is praying for you.  So even if you don’t know what words to say to Him, cry out.  God knows your hurts and is counting your tears and collecting them in a bottle.  They are precious to Him, and He cares for you deeply — deeper than anything we could ever imagine.   I pray that you know that God loves you.