Paris? Pain? Poverty? Start here.

Last week, we watched Paris experience tragedy. Many of us have friends fighting cancer . This Christmas season, we will encounter people with few possessions. Every time we help people deal with pain, we are reminded of a serious and uncomfortable truth.

God is bigger than we are and life is not fair.

Pain, humility, sorrow, and anguish turn us outward-always good.

Not impacted by the tragedy in France? Not currently helping a friend in physical pain? Here’s one more question-do you feel a little guilty that you are safe or healthy or financially blessed? Acknowledge this with Jesus. Tell Him, “I don’t know why I have am not struggling. I don’t know why I am so blessed! I don’t know how to respond, Lord.” We can “draw near to God and God will draw near to you.” (James 4:8) Humility is before service every time.

God has positioned you to be used by Him to bring LIGHT to dark tunnels in life. How?

PRAY for those in pain.
WEEP with those who weep. Jesus was big on this. No pep talks. No “count your blessings” mantra. Just BE with those who hurt and ask God to help you walk with them.
GIVE time and money. Sacrifice much.
TEACH kids that Jesus is eternal and that the world is not.
LIVE differently. Relationships with people are what we are made for.

Thankful that God is still God,

Tristie