Hebrews 5:2
And he is able to deal gently with ignorant and wayward people because he himself is subject to the same weaknesses.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
My Mam-ma Polly became something of a “personal spokeswoman” for her Assisted Living Facility. Whenever a potential new resident toured the building, the administrator would ask Mam-ma if it was okay to show them Mam-ma’s room. While she was still able to talk, Mam-ma would visit with the potential resident and tell them, “Moving here is the best thing I ever did.” I’m not sure she fully believed that statement, but she counseled and encouraged a lot of people in her two years there. She understood their fears and apprehensions…how hard such a move and life change was - and the finality it represented. She could commiserate. My grandmother made a great ambassador for her Assisted Living Facility!
Who could better encourage an addict or alcoholic than someone who is recovering from the same affliction? Who could possibly be a more effective minister to those in prison than someone who was once incarcerated? Who knows more about the daily demands of dealing with a child with a disability than another mom or dad who is also the parent of a child with challenges? Who understands the heartache and suffering of being a student who is bullied – or has a learning disability – than someone with the same experience? We can commiserate with the athlete who suffers a career-ending injury…but we cannot possibly understand how he/she truly feels like another athlete who experienced the same thing.
The point is that we all have something…some life events that qualify us to “deal gently” or share compassion and encouragement with someone else. God never wastes an opportunity! And the very things we see as “baggage” or a burden…He may plan to use to help others - and bless us in the bargain.
When we fail to reach out to others and share our experiences, we potentially block God’s plans – and our own blessings. God wants us to minister to others out of our own history…to say, “This is my story…and this is how God got me through it. What He did for me, he will surely do for you!” I can tell others all day long that an Assisted Living Facility is the right place for them to live at a certain life stage…but I’ve never had to make that decision, so what do I really know?!
I have never lost a spouse…or a child…I’ve never been divorced, been fired from a job, or experienced the overseas deployment of a loved one who was in the military. But I know people who have…and they are ideal disciples for others in the same boat. By the same token, I have my own set of experiences that give me insight into certain situations that others might be facing…and so do you. We might be just the person to offer encouragement and compassion to these folks.
So what’s keeping you from doing this? Are you “too busy”…lazy…ashamed…insecure? What IS your excuse? Do you understand that God wants each of us to reach out to others and share what He has done for us? Do you get that this is part of real Christian discipleship?
Take a good look at your life…your “skill set”…the experiences and events that mold and shape your life. Think about how God has brought you to this point…how He has brought you through trials, tribulations, joys and sorrows. Look around at the people in your circle and see who is going through a similar incident. Aren’t you the perfect person to reach out to them? Isn’t this what God is calling each of us to do? God wants each of us to strengthen and encourage others through our own “weaknesses”. Are you ready to be His ambassador and do your part?
©2014 Debbie Robus
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