Thursday, October 6, 2011

How are you?

So when people ask me "how are you?" I never know what to say. I feel like people only want to hear good things when they ask that question. When I am honest and say that I am not doing well people never know what to say to me. It is very awkward for both of us and someone ends up walking away. Why is it that when I talk to a Christian and say "I am not that good today" they get all weird? Why is it that we think that everything should be good when we are Christians? Is this not more of a health and wealth message when you think that everything should be ok all the time?
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. James 1:2-4
We are told in Scripture that we WILL go through trials and that we should be joyful about it due to the fact that our faith is being tested. Therefore we should expect that people WILL have days that they can say "I am not that good today"? As a Christian we should expect that there will be trials, but if we can't talk about those trials with our Church family then who can we talk about them with? When you go to Church are you thinking "I can only go if my life is in order and perfect"? If you are waiting for your life to be perfect to have a relationship with the LORD then you will never have a relationship with Him. I should be able to go to Church and tell people what my trials are and have them pray for me through the hard times. I should not feel like if I say "I am not that good today" that everyone will run the other direction.
Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.  Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. Galatians 6:1-3
Do we somehow think that we can only bear one another's burdens IF there was a transgression? Well I just want to say...why in the world would I tell anyone what my transgression was if they will not even listen to me when I am going through the trial and pray with me about the trial? We are called to love without conditions! If I see a sin in someones life that says they are a Christian yes I am called to point out that sin...but we should still love that person and it should be out of our love for them that we want to restore them to Christ not just to point out their sin.
Every time I am around a group of Christians it is the loneliest time of my week. It is like people either think that death is contagious or that they can't talk to me due to the fact that we will not have anything in common. Right now not only am I very lonely I feel like no one wants to even be around me. So not only do I have to deal with the death of my husband, the fact that I was laid off of my job in April and my unemployment will run out in Jan....I have to deal with it ALONE. Please tell me why no one calls me? Why I feel like a fish out of water at Church?
I am going to choose to tell people how I feel when they ask without any apologies or lies! I am going to choose to not push people away when they tell me they are struggling with something! I am going to love people the way that Jesus loves...without conditions! Thank You Jimmy for teaching me that not only is is possible to love without conditions but that it is what we should do!!

1 comment:

  1. Frankly, I dont think people know how to behave around a grieving friend. ... It is easier for them during the earlier days but as time progresses its hard to figure out wht to do.

    I agree with you that you should tell people exactly how you feel.. you maybe could say "Are you sure you want to know?" :)

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