Reach In and Recover

Somebody, somewhere is ready to give up.  Trouble is on the rise in their life and it's gotten too hard for them to stay afloat.  You may have been next to that person today.  They may have been abnormally quiet.  They may have been irritable and fussy.  They might have been open and candid about feeling overwhelmed or depressed.   Maybe something inside of you noticed that it seemed like that person was in need of...... something.  If you are like me, you would have hesitated to get involved because you have been conditioned to mind your own business.  Well, that's fine at times, but events from today have shown me that there are times when we need to get in one another's lives - with or without an open invitation.  Often people who need us the most push us away.  In those situations we have to reach in and recover our brother/sister.

 

How do we reach in and recover?  We can sit and listen.  The person may be feeling frustrated because they have kept everything bottled up.  They may just need someone to talk to who will not criticize, judge, or gossip.  We can reach in and recover by meeting needs.  We may not be able to solve all the person's problem, but we may be able to do something to help lighten the load.  We can visit and take time out with them.  Loneliness always makes hard times feel harder.  Having someone around every now and then can prevent someone from being lonely.  There are other ways to reach in and recover.  Prayer is always good.  We have to make sure, though, that when we pray we've done our part while we are asking God to do his. 

Scripture:
I Thessalonians 5:11, 14
¹¹ Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
¹⁴ And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone.

Prayer:
Lord, we all have moments of weakness.  Give us the wisdom to always return to you as the source of our strength.  Give us an awareness of one another and may we always willingly reach in and recover our brothers/sisters when they need us. Amen.