Romans 15 New International Version (NIV) "1 We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves."
I was sitting at work today listening to a co-worker cry because her ex-husband's new wife was being cruel to her. I can't understand the tendencies of some to just want to see other people cry. Then I realized that for some people the saying that "Misery Loves Company" is a way of life.
In speaking to this young lady, I kept trying to reiterate to her to live your best life. That the best way to shut down your haters was to ignore the foolishness and keep on striving for better. Life is worth living. It is a beautiful journey even when filled with storms. I remember a time when there seemed to be one storm after another after another. I am so thankful for those storms and for the lessons learned. I've heard it said over and over again in church that our storms, that trouble, that hurt and pain isn't for us. It's for us to show another that we made it through and so can you.
Test for all. The next time you are hearing someone speak on their storm, on their pain, what will you tell them? What spiritual high ground will you show them so that they can achieve success? Romans 2:11 (KJV)11 For there is no respect of persons with God. If one can make it through, so can 2 so can 1000 so can 10,000 so can 1 million. We can all make it through. But, it takes that one brave soul to be transparent. To be open and honest with another hurting soul to show them that there is a rainbow on the other side.
For my co-worker, her biggest worry was that her son would think that she didn't love him, that this woman was filling him with a hatred toward her. I understood this worry. I've lived this worry as a single parent. Here is what I know. My love for my son and his for me hasn't been hurt by the words of others. A bond founded in love can't be easily uprooted. Root your relationships with cemented love. Keep them grounded in God's love. Share with each other and be transparent so that person learns to trust you. Am I telling parents to share with their 5 year old the ups and downs of their relationships? Absolutely not. Children should be loved and protected via actions, words, and physically. Loving my child is protecting him from the various dangers but it is also knowing when he's ready to face that danger all on his own. I know this because I've equipped him.
This is no different from the way the Father sees us. He has already equipped us to take on the battles of life. (Hello!! Job!!) Don't you know that you are strong, loved, protected??? God wants His children to be a showpiece. We are His living epistles - easily read by man. Man should be able to read that no storm can break us, shake us, stop us for My FATHER is THE Creator of all. This Father opened His mouth and said Let there be light (Gen 1:3 ) and there was. The Creator rebuked the wind and said to the sea, Peace be still and it was (Mark 4:39). And, you don't think He can handle your storm? He can't handle financial issues or family issues or abuse or addiction?? Yeah, right!! Maybe you don't know whom you serve.
Listen, when storms come - be it yours or another's - turn to Him whom is able to do....EVERYTHING!!!
