you need a friend...

thinking about the other person’s feelings or what they’re going through.  but if i’m going to love like JESUS said to love, one of the ways to do that is to share other people’s problems, to sympathize with what they’re going through in life. 

that has to do with the circumstances in life but most important the faith problems we face in life.  jude 1.22 (msg), go easy on those who hesitate in the faith.  we tend to not share sympathy with those who have faith problems like, what’s wrong with you?  but the bible says go easy on those who hesitate in the faith. 

how many of you have been through a time of doubt as a believer?  everybody.  if you’re going through a time of doubt right now you are not alone.  the bible says don’t patronize those who are going through a time of doubt.  like “what’s wrong with you?  how could you go through this?  how could you...?”  kind of thing.  but instead sympathize with them.  realize we all go through struggles of doubt in our lives.  the bible says this in job 6.14 (niv), a despairing man should have the devotion of his friends.  even though he forsakes the fear of the ALMIGHTY. 

the bible says if you have a friend that says, “i’m forsaking GOD.  i’m giving up on GOD because of what’s happening in my life.”  what do they need?  they need a friend.  they don’t need you to turn your back on them, afraid of those kind of feelings.  they need a friend.  they need to hear words of sympathy. 

there are circumstances that we go through in life where you’re not sure you believe in GOD because of what you’re going through.  you’re so beaten down by life it’s hard to look up to GOD.  maybe you hear that you child is going to be born with birth defects.  and you wonder, “GOD!  where are you?”  or your husband/wife just walked out on you.  you feel like GOD walked out on you.  you feel like how could HE let this happen?  or you got a report from the doctor this week that says it’s cancer and it’s inoperable.  you wonder where GOD is in all that.  in that moment you need a word of sympathy.  you need a friend.  if you know somebody like that they need somebody to come beside them and say, “i understand what you’re going through.  i’m going to walk through this with you.”  GOD has given us words as this incredible, powerful tool to make a difference. 

just a thought from the front porch…