“There’s a whole lot of hurting out there…”
She paused…
And started a litany of people in pain…
A broken marriage…
Recovery from cancer surgery…
Addictions…
Paralysis from a serious accident…
Parents needing long term care…
A second person recovering from cancer surgery…
Adult children who have left the church… and God.
Her list continued…
Finally, she ended as she had begun…
“There’s a whole lot of hurting out there.”
…In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
You might think such a long list his comes from a large group of people.
But it is from a small group…
A few dozen people…
And it is by no means complete.
There are more hurting people in that group…
People we walk past every day, without seeing their pain.
There is hurt all around us…
There is hurt in our families…
Will we see the hurt?
Will we help?
But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. 1 Timothy 5:8
There is hurt in our neighborhood and in the world…
Will we see it?
Will we help?
“…‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” Luke 10:27
Will we see the hurt in our church?
Will we help?
By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. John 13:35
There’s a whole lot of hurting …
How will we help?
With our hearts, with our souls, with our prayers …
Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. James 5:13-16
With the resources God has given us…
But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? 1 John 3:17
There’s a whole lot of hurting out there…
Will we help?
Jesus has told us how to begin…
“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. John 15:12
One thought on “Will We Help?”
Everyone’s hurting yes. Everyone is hurting because man has destoyed our planet simply because of greed. This is why we are hurting. The tobacco corporations, the giant conglomerates that spew oil and constantly drill, the breweries and the oil companies who never seem to have enough to meet demand. The pharmaceuticals who poison our water our rivers with chemicals, the drugs cartels who poison our young and the weapons manufacturers who sell weapons to war-torn countries rather than help them make peace. I could go on. But all this hurtling is man’s doing. Everybody is hurting even though we are meant to be making leaps and bounds in medical discoveries and transplanting organs! Everybody is hurting because even though we habe made huge advances in technology, man has not! Because there are always going to be some people who will do stupid things like text and talk on their mobile while driving or take selfies!. Technology has advanced yes, the wonders of medical discoveries has advanced yes but the human race has not. Not in terms of having the sense to stop before their pride and arrogance has got the better of them.
Ask God to help you to make the right decision. Think twice about having that drink when you know you have to drive. Think twice aboutsmoking that joint or shooting up when you need your wits about you. Think twice about giving your girlfriend or boyfriend that ecstasy tablet. Because you can neverturn the clock back. Think very carefully about molesting that child because your character will forever be sullied. It is man who has created this tragic world we live in today. Please please think before you act. Man believes he is infallible but he is not. He believes he is invincible but he is not. There is a higher rate of young men even teenage boys taking their own lives. Everbody is hurting because they have lost faith in God. Because they believe man has all the answers and that money is the answer to all their problems that capitalism is the New God. It is not it can create more or new problems if anything.
I used to believe that money was the answer. Then I became I’ll, very ill. Now I value my health more than anything. Because without my good health I have nothing. I know this was a very long reply but everything negative I have read so far or heard so far is down to man and his insatiable greed and need for enhancement. I say slow down. Because you are killing yourself and us! Trust in God to show you the way. Talk to him. Please.He is listening and watching over us. He knows you have lost your way. He will welcome you with open arms should you want to return. He loves you.
A prayer for the lost
Dear Heavenly Father open your arms and your heart to those who have lost their way in life. Help them find their back to your kingdom of love and acceptance. Guide them by the light of your Holy Spirit and your son Jesus. Amen