English: Jesus entering Jerusalem on a donkey (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
If you’ve missed the last couple of posts, then this title makes no sense… but then you’re probably thinking the author of this blog rarely makes sense (nothing new under the sun)!
Summing up much in a nutshell, how do we minister to those enduring great trials? Do we present a loving and caring Father whose Son literally weeps for our pain? Do we offer them the omniscient and omnipotent Almighty God who knows and predetermines all… the One who is working all things out for the good of His children? Do we give them all of both… or maybe a pinch of this and a dab of that?
When things are well, it’s easy to read Scripture and come up with a take on this. It’s more difficult when your loved one is walking through the midst of a trial and the words you say or write will be influential, encouraging, or even detrimental to their situation.
There is another option, but this one is probably not available during the time of the trial. This option might be labeled preparation.
What if, when times are well, we spent our hours learning and digesting the entire counsel of our Heavenly Father? Shouldn’t we use these good times to prepare ourselves and our loved ones for what we know will come? Due to the fact that one hundred percent of all peoples have endured trials and hardships is a pretty good indicator that we will all face them again.
Shouldn’t we be prepared?
Still, the dilemma remains. How do we minister in the midst of trials?
A good friend, and one of the mentors of my life, once shared something with me that I’ve tried to keep tucked away in mind and heart: our God is bigger than we know! He demonstrated to me that ministering to the hurting almost always requires our acknowledging the frailty of our own ability.
What he meant was coming to the place where we understand we have nothing to offer anyone. We can merely be there as a vessel to those going through trials. We are only broken pots of clay… who are filled with the most valuable treasure that is available to those God places in our paths.
What does all of this mean? Possibly… From a standpoint of sovereignty… no one will cross our paths by accident… we must be prepared and available! From a standpoint of love and compassion… love as Jesus loved!
When God is at work, and we are there for Him to use, a positive result is assured.
Related articles
- When Things Don’t Seem So Well (mtsweat.com)
- When Things Seem too Well… maybe we need our well examined (mtsweat.com)
- Reflecting On Our Trials (ptl2010.com)
- Faith Child – Our God a very present help in trouble (ptl2010.com)
- Standing ~ in the Midst of Heavy Trials ~ With the Living, Enduring, Active Word of God (whispersinthedesert.wordpress.com)
ccragamuffin
mtsweat
Great message in this posting… to be used of the Lord we must be emptied of ourselves…. Isn’t that the example Christ set for us when He emptied HImself so He could be used of the Father on our behalf. (Phil 2:6-11) Lord bless you and your wife.
Any tradesman will gather his tools – the tools he has prepared and ready – before commencing a work.
As commissioned ambassadors for Christ, we need to have our tools prepared and ready. Since our main tools are prayer and the Word of God, we should practice the presence of God and know and memorise God’s Word. At the very least we should memorise WHERE to find applicable verses/portions.
hi;; friend is mornday,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
You Have a Role in the Body of Christ
“All of you together are Christ’s body, and each one of you is a separate and necessary part of it.” (1 Corinthians 12:27 NLT)
One reason why you need to be connected to a church family is to fulfill your calling to serve other believers in practical ways. The Bible says, “All of you together are Christ’s body, and each one of you is a separate and necessary part of it” (1 Corinthians 12:27 NLT).
What an important message…so often if we rely on ‘self’ in trying to help people in troubled situations, we end up feeling guilty…But being a ‘vessel’ of God’s love opens the way for Him to pour out all of His blessings through us. Wonderful article!
Amen! All we can do is stand in the gap and pray! In Christ, Carley