Sometimes I think I forget Whose I am, and for Whom I live.
It's easy to listen to someone complain and join in with their complaints. It's easy to be drawn into another's anger, aggravation, and annoyance. I do it every time I listen to news reports on health-care, politics, and injustice around the world. The hard thing is to listen and observe all of these things and be encouraging, hopeful, and inspiring. There's a fine line to empathy. We must feel another's trial without giving into their despair and claiming ownership to it. We must identify with it without letting it identify us. Pity the counselor who allows their clients' problems to become their own. Overwhelming.
Discouragement leads to despair. Praising God triggers the joy within my soul. Dwelling on the goodness of life grounds me and develops an attitude of gratitude for all I have when the world threatens stability. Remembering all the difficult times God has taken me through is vital to strengthening my faith and increasing my hope. In remembering, I have concrete times I can pinpoint wherein I personally experienced the faithfulness of God. I have a rock to stand upon that reminds me I am not alone.
Today brings its own share of difficulties for people I know and love. Some things are insurmountable. Some things appear insurmountable. May God give me the grace I need to be their support and not their stumbling block as I feel their heartache and pain. May I always point them to the bridge over raging waters that only Christ can be. selahV
