For the Sick and Hurting

My cousin passed away Sunday morning a week ago. He was a good man, and I knew him all my life. He was 82 and left behind a wife and three children. One of his daughters lost her husband to cancer a couple of years ago and now her dad is gone as well. Likewise, many of us are sick, hurting (physically, mentally, spiritually, or financially), have lost loved ones, and have relatives going through hard times.

Life on this earth is not easy. Job said, “Man who is born of woman is of few days and full of trouble” (Job 14:1). Friends, all of us sooner or later are going to face severe trials in this life. These difficult times will do one of two things: make our faith and character stronger or weaken our faith and diminish our character, some to the point of giving up.

How are we as Christians to respond to the harshness and setbacks in life? One, remember we have Jesus! This Jesus who promised we would have tribulation in this world but to be of good cheer for He has overcome the world (John 16:33). This same Jesus Who promised He would never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5, Matthew 28:20). The writer of Hebrews teaches, “so that we may boldly say, “The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What will man do to me (Hebrews 13:6)?

As Christians, we need to pray to God through Jesus to give us wisdom, peace, and strength during these challenging times. We need to read Scriptures pertaining to God’s comfort, peace, and help to those in need. We need to believe those verses and take them to heart. We need to reach out to our brothers and sisters in Christ for spiritual and emotional support (Romans 12:15). We need to be kind and gentle with ourselves during these times of grief (Mark 12:31). Please give yourself permission to avail all of these tools as we all struggle with the challenges of life.

Finally, let us always strive to love one another as God so loves us. Please finish the race set before you, for Heaven will surely be worth it all.

Stay true to the Word,

Brother Travis