Tag: help others

Suffering Comes

On By vickleaIn Scripture, YouVersion App1 Comment

From YouVersion Bible App, “The God Who is Faithful, Day 5”

Suffering with Purpose

Paul understood the reality of suffering as well as anyone. His troubles extended to the point that he “despaired of life itself” (v. 8). But Paul recognized that just as believers share in the sufferings of Christ, “comfort abounds through Christ” (v. 5). Knowing this, Paul found joy in his own sufferings and encouraged the believers in Corinth to do the same. Further, Paul recognized that Christ comforts believers in their sufferings so that they, in turn, can bring comfort to others. Paul used his own times of suffering as opportunities to bless those around him. Even when all seemed lost, Paul knew that his suffering occurred so that he would learn to rely less on himself and more fully on God. Having seen Christ work in his own trials in the past, Paul had even greater confidence that God would continue to deliver him so that he might, in turn, continue to minister to the young church.

Just as Paul did, believers today can view struggles and suffering as opportunities to bless those around them. Just as he did not abandon Paul, Jesus will be faithful to his people in all circumstances.

Today’s Prayer:

Jesus, thank you for the growing pains I’ve experienced. Please use me and the experiences from my past to help others. Amen.

My Thoughts

I don’t know about you, but I am not one of those people who say about suffering: “Yes, please sign me up because I know God will be with me.” I am, however, realistic about the fact that we all suffer, to different degrees and at different times, and when we do, God is always there. I do not believe that all suffering happens to teach us a lesson. But I do believe that we can ask God to help us learn from what we go through so that we can help others who go through similar circumstances. I consider myself a realist. We live in the world. It is broken, and as a result of the sin that broke it, we are all suffering until Christ comes again. But we don’t have to suffer with bitterness or anger or even in vain. I truly believe that if we have to suffer, we should sincerely have our eyes open to the opportunities that God will give us to help others later. The One who suffered the most can relate to each of us in our pain and help us through. Then, we in turn, can help others.

Undeserved Favor from God

On By vickleaIn Scripture, YouVersion App2 Comments

www.bible.com/reading-plans/3797/day/5

There needs to be more stories in the news like the one in this devotional about the selfless acts that one person does for another person in need. How much more pleasant it would be to watch a news show with some positive news on it? We may never make the news but we are called upon to be selfless and Jesus modeled that for us when He went to the cross. God’s gift is completely free for us, but it cost Him dearly. When we accept His gift of grace, mercy and ultimately salvation, we are part of His army of volunteers that He sends into the world to represent Him. We may not be able to do big things, but we can do something every day to show someone the love of Jesus in our lives, opening a door for them to get to know Jesus for themselves. I confess that I have been prompted by the Holy Spirit to do something for a stranger and have walked away instead, sometimes due to shyness and the thought that I might be embarrassed. I am trying to do better and to follow the His leading, to help others selflessly regardless of how I personally feel about stepping outside of my comfort zone. Sometimes God prods us to do something that costs money (He knows we have it or He wouldn’t ask us to give), sometimes He encourages us to give time or a tangible gift of some sort. Whatever it is that He tells us to give, we need to be ready and willing to reach out to others. God reached down from heaven to each of us when He sent His only Son to die for us. It seems to me that it’s a small thing for us to obey His call to reach out to others. His undeserved favor is supposed to be passed on, not hoarded.

Suffering and Affliction

On By vickleaIn Scripture3 Comments

No one likes to talk about suffering and few know really what affliction is. According to the online dictionary, affliction is a condition of pain, suffering and distress. I want to add that the pain doesn’t have to be physical; it can also be mental or emotional pain. Whatever it is that we are going through, I sincerely believe that God can use it to teach us about others and about ourselves.

God comforts us when we are in the midst of our suffering, but why would He do that? God’s desire for us is that we get closer to Him, lean into Him during our times of hardship. That way, when we see other suffering, we are more likely to recognize what they are going through and be able to reach out a helping hand and an open heart to them. God’s plan for us is fellowship, with Him and with one another. Unfortunately, many of us don’t want to admit our need for others until there is a crisis that we are facing. Then, we reach out. I hope that we reach out to God first and then to other people, but that depends on how close your relationship to God is. Do you trust Him to help you through the suffering or do you sit back and whine and blame Him for it?

For example, it’s difficult to really comfort someone who has just lost a parent without having suffered that loss yourself. Yes, you can say the right words and give the hugs, but the real understanding comes from having gone through it and come out on the other side. The important thing is to be there, ready and willing to help carry the burden until the load gets lighter. Having been there, you will be more likely to notice when the other person needs you desperately, even when it’s the middle of the night. I am not saying that you cannot be compassionate unless you have suffered yourself. What I believe is that you see the event with different eyes if you have experienced it.

Does God want us to suffer? No, because He is a loving Father. Sometimes our suffering is due to our own bad choices. Sometimes, it’s because sin is in the world and Satan is wreaking all of the havoc that he can since his time is short. Whatever the reason, God doesn’t cause the suffering but He will use it to teach us how to be patient, how to persevere, how to trust Him; in short, God uses suffering to help us to be more like Him if we are willing to put ourselves into His capable and loving hands. Then, after we have come through whatever it is, God can use us to help others. No one likes suffering and affliction. There isn’t a long line with people clamoring, “Yeah, sign me up!” But since we are well aware that it’s going to happen, we might as well have our hearts ready to lean on God and to go through it to the other side, with our eyes open to the opportunity that God may present just because of our suffering.

Thursday’s Quotation

On By vickleaIn Uncategorized4 Comments

Have you ever been at the beach and awakened early, before anyone else was up? Have you gone walking on an empty beach and watched as your feet sank into the sand? Then, have you turned around to walk back the way you came and have you seen your footprints on the sand? Have you thought about the fact that others will come after you and form more footprints, either on top of or next to yours?

Now, take that visual and apply it to the fact that if you are walking ahead of someone, there is someone behind you who may need your help. When we help, sometimes we feel like that other person is holding us back. But this quotation tells us a truth. Helping others challenges us to grow, to become more like Christ, to become more mature in our faith. Yes, it takes time to help others, but it will always be worth it.

Please look for someone today who needs your help. It may be a child or grandchild who needs a kind word of encouragement. It may be an elderly neighbor who just needs something picked up at the store and delivered. It may even be your spouse who just needs your time. My friends, I will be taking my own advice today. I hope that you have a blessed day so that you can reach out and be a blessing.

Look for the hidden blessing when you help others, for in reaching out to them, you are reaching your hand out to God.