December 8th
December 8th
The last thing we want to think about during the Christmas season are the obstacles in our lives. But troubles don’t pause or disappear just because it is the holiday season. In fact, we often feel it more during the holidays. Loneliness becomes more profound, grief more pronounced, physical limitations more noticeable, financial shortages more limiting, family rifts more felt, broken relationships more painful. The fact of the matter is that everyone has some type of obstacle in their life right now. Obstacles are just getting bigger and more common. We live in a fallen world, so we all have someone in our life that is suffering some type of obstacle whether we ourselves are or not. We don’t need to seek out trouble, there is enough in this evil world to find its way into our lives somehow.
So, I pose this question to you…what is your response to obstacles? Do you stop to think what you can glean from your obstacle that can be used to help others?
Romans 12:15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.
How can we mourn with those who mourn if we have never mourned or suffered any loss ourselves? We can all sense genuine compassion versus just lip service or feeling sorry. What do we need to wrap our heads around to be able to show genuine compassion to those who are actively suffering obstacles or loss this Christmas? We just need to remember what it is/was like for us in our own struggles. Doesn’t need to be exact circumstances, it just needs to be painful experiences or stressful situations, etc. The best thing we can do this season is to place ourselves in a position of empathy for someone in our life who needs our heartfelt intercession for them. If you are lucky enough to be someone currently experiencing troubles in your life then you won’t have to look far to place yourself in the empathetic position. However challenging it may be to step outside of your own mirth long enough to find someone else to go to the altar for, it is worth it. When we sacrifice our time and effort to lift up others in need, we find ourselves blessed. We find encouragement, perspective, healing, and direction in our own circumstances. Read the beatitudes in Matthew 5 and notice that in every verse Jesus pronounces blessing over those who have needs of some sort. Not once does He say blessed are those who are happy, wealthy, or successful.
Matthew 5:3-12 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
When we find ourselves feeling pain or suffering obstacles, let us remember the promises of God written through the prophet Isaiah regarding Jesus and his ministry to us and then rather than keep these promises to ourselves, let us seek out someone else who needs the same promises and put ourselves in a position of intercession for them.
Isaiah 61:1-3,7 The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor. Instead of your shame you will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace you will rejoice in your inheritance. And so you will inherit a double portion in your land, and everlasting joy will be yours.
The world around us is full of hurting people, let us take some time out of our busy schedule this holiday season to seek out those and rather than patronize them, or enable them, let us place ourselves in the gap and begin to pray God’s promises every day over them and seek His answers in their lives. Then let us just be with them if possible, remembering that they may need our presence rather than presents, understanding rather than words, prayer rather than preaching. Let us be careful not to throw money or things at people who need prayer and compassion instead, even though it may save us some uncomfortable moments.
Jesus, Help me to reach out to others with genuine empathy and compassion this Christmas. Help me to recognize the needs and lead me in the best way to minister to them. Help me to be you to others. Help me not to be so focused on my own obstacles that I don’t reach out to anyone else. Help me to get your promises deep into my heart so that I can cherish them not just for myself but also for others. Thank you for those promises and help me to remember them daily. Thank you for your love this Christmas Jesus!