Who Needs You?

Therefore comfort each other and edify one another,

just as you also are doing.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 NKJ

Recently, I have been very focused on the issues in my life. I must admit that it has weighed me down greatly. One day, as I was studying, I realized that I had taken my eyes off God and had become focused on the concerns of my life. I was in a frenzy trying to figure things out. Some things were not really emergent needs. They were concerns about my future and the future of my children and family members. When I read John 15:7, a light came on in my anxious mind. The New King James Version says, “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.” Well, there it is! I should have been praying to the One who would supply my needs and bring my desires to fruition instead of trying to figure out how to make things happen on my own! Imagine! I had wasted so much time being anxious and upset when I could have communed with the Father and been at peace. Isaiah 26:3 says, “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.”

So, how do we keep our minds focused on Him? For me, I keep my appointment with Him daily by studying His word. I pray continually even about the small stuff. I have decided to lean into Him when things (and people in my life) go left. This has been a difficult one because I tend to internalize my hurts and frustrations. Now, my goal is to take it all to Jesus as soon as things go awry and even when they don't. When I leave it with Him, He gives me His peace in return. Another way that I have tried to focus on Him is by focusing on His people and those who could become His people.

I remember the many days that I sat alone in my home following my husband’s unexpected death. I was in a very dark place. If it had not been for Pastor Locks reaching out to me daily for months, sometimes more than once a day, I am not sure how I would have made it. If it had not been for his intentional efforts to encourage me, I could have spiraled even further down that deep dark hole of despair. However, I grew to expect his timely morning call to challenge me to get out of bed, shower, eat, and get moving. He would say, “daughter, are you up?!” I would reply with a yes even if I was still sitting on my bed not thinking about a shower or food. He would do this for me even while in the midst of his own trials. Pastor Locks was about the work of the Lord even if it was inconvenient. It was his honor to serve God to the fullest even when he was not physically able.

My desire is to be just like that. I want to honor God with my living and my sacrifice. I have found that lifting up others has actually lifted me. (Acts 20:35 – “I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”) Now, I find that I don’t think nearly as much about the drama in my life and I am more intentional about what gets my attention. I have also found that my stress level has gone down tremendously. I have decided to trust God to handle my issues and concerns while I pray on behalf of others.

My question for us all…Have we considered who might need our encouragement today? Are we so focused on our concerns that we have failed to see the needs (that we can provide) of our brother or sister? Most times, it is just a matter of a spoken word to acknowledge them. A simple hello via text with a cute Bitmoji goes a long way with me. If you prefer, send them an email or a card in the mail. Don’t worry so much about the how. Put more emphasis on responding to the prompting of the Holy Spirit to reach out to them in whatever way is appropriate at that very moment. We won’t be able to get to everyone, but we can try to reach those that He places on our hearts. Our obedience is what God is after. When we are obedient, He sees us abiding in Him and walking according to the Spirit.

So, let us all consider connecting with our brothers and sisters to encourage them in whatever way seems best. It really doesn’t matter the method, it’s more about the effort. While they may not be able to return the kindness at that very moment, they may pay it forward when the opportunity arises. If they do, we all have accomplished a great thing. We have been agents of God to spread His Love and Joy throughout our community.

Much love to you all…