02.24
There’s someone in our church that I’ve been missing lately. We’ll call her Jan. I emailed Jan and asked how she was doing. She’s struggling. Depression, loneliness, and feelings of abandonment by God. Now, Jan’s a remarkable lady. Everyone who knows her loves her. I’m telling you, she’s really amazing, but she’s had a tough life… really tough. And she wants so desperately to feel loved by God, but right now she feels nothing.
Since I’m an exceptionally wise and intelligent pastor, I offered Jan a few thoughts – some might call them suggestions – on her difficulties. Her response? “I just can’t buy them right now.” The platitudes that usually sound so good (never doubt in the dark what God taught you in the light; just hang in there; or perseverance produces character) just don’t work in Jan’s case. She has already ‘hung in there’ longer than I ever would. She has endured more heartache in any ten year period of her life than I want to experience in my entire life.
So what do I do??? That’s where Philippians helped me. “Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles.” I’m not sure what acts of kindness Paul is referring to in that verse, but I do get the sense that the church at Philippi cared for Paul – and showed it. And that’s all I can do for Jan, care for her and show it. God will have to take care of the rest. He did for Paul and He will for Jan.
Have you ever had someone reach out to you when you were in an awful place? How did it help?
What’s God teaching you through Philippians 4?
