How blessed we are, God gives us everything worldly – health, strength, multitude of talents, gifts, time and life. We can proclaim, ‘How good God has been and continues to be!’ No, it isn’t exactly as we would like it to be. Our set of eyes, very different from the Lord, who sees all, are limited. Jesus meets us where we are and not where we would like to be. He desires mercy for ourselves and those we love and care for. Knowing all our needs, He provides strength in proportion to our present obstacles and encourages us to rest in the ocean of His love.
Perhaps it can be as simple as ‘listening’ to someone who is struggling with health and life. The effort to stay sensitive to the needs of others can demand a lot of us, but the Lord is within all. There is a lot to be said about putting our self in the other person’s shoes. Yes, He wants us to take care of ourselves, but knows as we reach out to others with His love and compassion, in God’s economy, we receive more than we give – grace upon grace. Is God calling us and asking us to share with someone new or someone we don’t usually tell our story of God’s faithfulness to?
Do we find it easier to share with strangers, than our own families, where we have issues? We do have to set limits on what we can and cannot do and most importantly, learn to say no, when necessary. Sharing God’s love can have benefits beyond our expectations and will contain numerous wonderful surprises. The Lord wants us to share in His confidence, giving to us a sense of optimism grounded in everlasting hope. When we have hope, anything is possible!
Although we usually think ‘something’ about us is missing – too short or too tall or whatever, we are not flawed. God doesn’t make mistakes, we are all God’s masterpieces. He created us exactly how He wanted us, so that we can perform all the good things that He has planned for us. God uses even our weaknesses to bring about joy and love in the dark places of people’s lives. God’s faithfulness reminds us how loved we are and with this love, we can trust hope to fill our hearts.
We find encouragement in the words of Ecclesiastes 3:11-12, “He has made everything appropriate to its time, and has put the timeless into their hearts, without human beings ever discovering, from beginning to end, the work which God has done. I recognized that there is nothing better than to be glad and to do well during life.” We can keep praising how good our God has been, even when we have been through difficulties (in our caretaking or whatever) because the Lord is fully committed to us, carrying us and promising to always be with us. What are your thoughts?