Overwhelm: Swamp, submerge, engulf, bury, deluge, flood, inundate, overcome.
Listen to people and their stories: Long term illness, divorce, financial devastation, cancer, job loss, loss of homes, death. It’s overwhelming to our emotions.
Today I came to the realization that this is where I am at.
When overwhelmed I withdraw. I withdraw from seeing people and speaking to them on the phone. If I keep myself from being around people I won’t hear their story and it won’t be added to the overwhelming weight I already feel.
Why do I feel the weight of other’s problems? Because God has put a love in my heart for people. When they hurt, I hurt. I want to remove that hurt and I can’t, I wasn’t made to, that is God’s job. But that doesn’t stop the ache in my heart.
I feel helpless when all I can offer are a few words; however, I may be overlooking a very powerful tool. Maybe at the moment I am in their presence a few words, given by the Holy Spirit through me, is all they need to get through another burdensome day. So if I am withdrawing from contact with people am I adding to their burden? Maybe, if God intended to use me in their life that day.
Does this possibility cause me to desire to run out and find people? No. I want to protect my heart. It’s selfish I know. Forgive me for this but at times my heart feels like it is hemorrhaging. I could blame God for this pain, He made me this way but He knew what He was doing when He gave me a soft heart.
Psalm 33:12-15 The Lord looks from heaven; He sees all the sons of men. From the place of His dwelling He looks on all the inhabitants of the earth; He fashions their hearts individually; He considers all their works.
For all my family, friends, and those I have never met, who are going through sorrows my heart cries for you. I desire you to be at the end of your trial, I long for you to have the victory that you are battling for, I cry out for you to have wholeness.
1 Peter 1:6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.
Only “for a Little While.”
Photo: MorgueFile
