Saturday, October 13, 2007

WHAT'S GOING ON HERE? QUESTIONS ABOUT COMFORTING OTHERS

Here's a true situation. D is going through a hard season of life right now. Much of her life has been really tough and she has had to struggle, and her church has been there and seen it. But she is also seeking healing and growth, unlike many of the struggling people that her church has helped. D doesn't feel like she cries wolf because even tho she cries for help often, each time it is sincere and a real need. Lately D has really suffered physically, emotionally, relationally, and financially. It seems like everything has hit at once. It culminated in 1 event that she was particularly dreading happening. As D has been struggling and as this dreaded event approached, she has let her friends and church know that she was having a hard time. However, during this season which has lasted 2 months up to the date of the event, during that dreaded day, and even these few days post, no one from her church has checked on her or offered encouragement. Her church is only about 230 people, however, the pastor, the elders, her small group leaders, her fellow small group members, and most of her friends have ignored her pain. One friend called once. That is it from her church. It reminds me of another surprising story - I have a friend at seminary who had to have elbow surgery and have his entire arm put in a cast. He asked for help for rides and stuff and most people ignored him. And no one at the seminary or at his church offered to bring him a meal even tho they could see him struggling 1-armed. And his case isn't messy like D's. One could enter into his struggling and actually have a quick fix.
Why are we so reluctant to enter in? If it was hammered from the pulpit would we just do it legalistically? Oh Lord change our hearts.

Tuesday, October 02, 2007

CRYING OUT TO GOD

What do you think about this letter?


I absolutely hate church lately and go as little as I can.~ Where the hell is the Holy Spirit who is supposed to be clinging to me?~ There is NO ONE who can and is or will help me stay close.~ What can mere man do anyway?~ NOTHING really.~ I don't know why I've even cried out to people lately, because they can't fix me.~ Only the Lord can.~ I've screamed out to him for years.~ And yet it seems he leaves me here all alone and with no joy or contentment or peace - all of which he has promised but doesn't seems to give. ~ ~Does he enjoy punishing me by dangling peace and joy on a string and then jerking it back?~ This the root of my pain and my issues - the fact that it appears that the Lord has just left me to be eaten by wolves so much of my life.~ That he appears to be a liar who says he cares and then doesn't seem to.~ This kind of rage I am feeling inside right now is what I feel when I am unstable and about to go off the deep end - but what can we do about it?~ I mean all the physical stuff possible is already being done - its just really slow healing and I don't know if I have the strength to fight the lies until I feel better physically and that's when I'm able to fight them.~ ~And emotionally, the pain and the stresses of life cannot be fixed easily.~ And spiritually I know if I hang in then God comes~ through for at least a second of time, and I can get a glimpse of joy or peace or contentment which will then motivate me to hang on for the next glimpse.~ ~That's the pattern - He does show himself every once in a while.~ And then its beautiful and glorious and amazing.~ It makes it seem all worth it to get a glimpse of the Lord.~ But then I don't get another glimpse for a very long time and meanwhile everything is so bleak and so hard and it drags, drags, drags me down again.~ I am entitled to the blessings and promises of God too right? I mean, Jesus died for me, so where is the joy that comes with that?


This is a real letter written by a real woman who is a strong believer. Do you think she crosses the line? Is she crying out to God honestly or is she demanding that God do things her way?