|
Every Christian goes through some emotional times. We have emotional needs. How many of us feel lonely sometimes? How many of us feel discouraged sometimes? How many of us feel down, lazy, just tired, can't do this anymore, not feel like giving, 'who am I' sometimes. These are the thoughts we get when we are discouraged or down.
Lots of people around us are not getting encouragement. If we feel discouraged, down, lazy, tired at times amid all the encouragement we get, how about lots of people who is not getting it.
Sometimes we feel great to have somebody hang out with us, listens to our cry, comforting us. Same way lots of christians feel. Best way to encourage them first is to understand that their feelings are real and we must make every effort to understand them .
The following scriptures show how different people felt in the Bible. Let us try to understand them.
1. Psalm 31:10-12
10 My life is consumed by anguish and my years by groaning; my strength fails because of my affliction, and my bones grow weak.
11 Because of all my enemies, I am the utter contempt of my neighbors; I am a dread to my friends-- those who see me on the street flee from me.
12 I am forgotten by them as though I were dead; I have become like broken pottery.
Probably now we might not relate to this. When we go through the same feeling, we relate to this. People go through this feeling. They feel they are nobody. All those who left the fellowship feel that way. They might be with full of sin, messed up life but we should not make them feel forgotten. Let us not forget them.
2. Psalm 88:17-18
17 All day long they surround me like a flood; they have completely engulfed me.
18 You have taken my companions and loved ones from me; the darkness is my closest friend.
Very depressed person. Can we understand them, darkness as their friend? We got to relate to them and help them to come out of it. They like their worldliness, their worldly job more than their church. Many parents feel that way towards us. Oh they have taken away my son or daughter. When we feel for those Christians we'll make an impact otherwise we'll thrash them with your words.
3. Psalm 142:4
Look to my right and see; no one is concerned for me. I have no refuge; no one cares for my life.
David had lot of people around him to help him. In spite of that he felt this way. Lots of people are not loved, encouraged. For us it is easy to get bad attitudes when somebody say nobody loves me.
4. Mark 14:48
"Am I leading a rebellion," said Jesus, "that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me?
We can't call our members rebellious because they don't understand what we are trying to say. They have questions regarding church, leaders, about our convictions. It is a very negative feeling when they're termed rebellious. When we do so they are motivated to rebel.
5. Luke 15:16
He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
Please feed when people come home. They would feel they gave me something.
6. Luke 16:20
At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores 21 and longing to eat what fell from the rich man's table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.
There are people like that we got to care for. The best people who can help them and show them compassion are we.
7. John 5:7
"Sir," the invalid replied, "I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me."
Is that the cry of people who visits our church? We need to care for people we got to love, care for them.
Can you hear the cries of such people? We got to be there for them to take care of them.
We don't have to do it alone God is with us. God hears our cries.
John 14:18
I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.
Orphans suppose to feel lonely, no parents, no brothers, no sisters, no relatives. We have so many of them. Jesus said that he will not leave us as orphans. He said "I'll be there, I'll not leave you as orphans"
Isaiah 54:10
Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed," says the LORD, who has compassion on you.
John 16:32
"But a time is coming, and has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me.
Jesus is saying even if all leave him ,Father will be with him
2 Timothy 4:16-18
16 At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them.
17 But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion's mouth.
18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Paul is saying the Lord will rescue him and not leave him alone even if others desert him!
As we live our Christian life we go through many struggles, but always remember God will never leave us to be alone and feel lonely. Let us be there for each other, all the lost and for all the Nation understanding their pain and helping them find the true friend in our Savior Jesus Christ.
|
