I Feel Your Pain

Today’s PrayerPoint ~ I Feel Your Pain

No, really, I do. And often literally.

Have you ever had your heart ache over a situation?

If you have shared with me a painful event in your life at some point over the last 30+ years, I have felt your pain. Did I know exactly what you felt or experienced? No, absolutely not. But I know me and I know my heart actually aches and is sometimes overwhelmed when someone I care about walks through a difficult trial.

Empathy is a good thing in relationships. Walking along someone who is struggling is a hard but an important element in friendship. But it is equally important for me not to be consumed by the pain of another.

When I have family and friends experiencing deep pain and loss it is hard for me to watch. It would be wonderful to be able to take the pain away but that is not my place. My role is to pray for and encourage them. There is only One who can truly take that pain and the yuck and rework it for His good.

Do you know a friend in a hard, hard place? Love them. Pray for them. Encourage them. And if you are in a position to offer your ear, listen to them. If you are led, do a little legwork for them to find some useful resources for their situation. You won’t likely be able to fix their problems and that is ok. Know your limitations and recognize that your ability to care for them may be limited by time, space, and healthy boundaries.

There are many difficult things that happen as we live our lives but walking through life with a friend makes it easier to get through some of those challenges.

This week, pray for your friends and the challenges they are experiencing!

Roadside Cleanup

Have you ever participated in a roadside clean up only to drive by a week later and see it as trashy as it was before you labored to pick up the trash? It is so frustrating!

Sometimes, that’s just like my life. I make an honest and determined effort to ‘clean up’ an area in my life but those old habits creep right back in and soon things are messy again. A funny thing…when it’s my mess, I have a hard time asking for or receiving help in order to get the mess clean. Somehow I think I should be old enough and experienced enough or “godly” enough to not ever have to ask for assistance. Ever find that true for you?

Thankfully, God has placed wonderful people in my life who “lovingly assist” when needed. Sometimes it is simply a word of encouragement or a listening ear. Other times they roll up their sleeves and take on a task on my behalf. I am so thankful that God has patience for me. As I recall the many instances of His grace and mercy for me it is actually becomes a joy to extend it to others. May you be blessed as you work together with other believers to share God’s grace, forgiveness, and peace!

Heavenly Father, Help me to graciously accept assistance in areas of my need and a have a willingness to extend myself in Your name for others. Give me Your eyes to see the needs of others and Your guidance as to the level of my involvement. In Your Son’s Name, Amen.

Friendships

God has blessed me with so many friendships! I am always amazed at this. At each place and station in my life, He has placed such fun and Spirit-led and thoughtful and loving people in my path! I thank God for my friends!

There are so many offshoots with a topic as broad as friendship. As you ponder this idea, possibly you know someone who is surrounding themselves with dangerous friends and/or heading down a compromising road. Maybe you are concerned about a family that is moving away and that God would provide them with wonderful friendships in their new town or the loss you will experience when they move. If you have children you may want to pray for them to be good and Godly friends and to be able to lovingly address conflicts with their friends. Maybe you have been praying for a friendship that needs to be restored. Is there someone in your life God has been nudging you to befriend?

Dig into God’s Word and let God use the Scripture to tune your perspective and your heart to His perspective and heart and let Him lead you in prayer. And remember, He wants to be your best friend.