The morning I read this devotional two thoughts jumped out at me very clearly ….
1) People Are Hurting – But they don’t wear signs, at least I didn’t.
We pass people every day who are barely holding it together, yet they are dressed up, with a smile on their face, and if you ask them how they are doing, they’ll say “well” or “fine” or a host of other positive responses.
Regardless of the smile they may muster up for you, hurting, scared, desperate, empty people don’t wear signs reflecting how their life is going.
So, be nice to everyone, and let your actions point back to Christ, because you may be the only bright spot in someone’s day, or the only person / conduit in their entire life that Christ can work through to reach them. It’s possible.
At the lowest points in my life, basically nobody knew where I was mentally, emotionally, physically, spiritually, except my wife and to an extent my mother, and neither one of them honestly knew just what a bad place I was really in. Outside of them nobody else really even had a clue.
So, at a minimum, just be nice to people, and don’t add to their burden.
2) Stop Pretending – If what you are carrying is getting heavy then put it down, or ask for help carrying it if you can’t just “put it down”.
My life change when I stopped pretending I was fine, acknowledged I wasn’t, and asked God for His help.
I finally admitted that I couldn’t fix me, or my situation, or fill the empty spot inside of me without Him, but it took me a long long time to get there. About two decades. Looking back I very much regret that decision took me so long to make.
So, stop pretending you can do it, or fix it, or fill it, and just give it to God.
Also, don’t expect Him to wave His magic God wand and just make it all go away when you do, that’s not always how it works, except for the empty part….
He will begin to fill the empty part inside of you quickly, and once that starts getting filled it often leads to changes in your life elsewhere.
Just do your part, and don’t stop doing your part, the seeking part, that’s the part that opens the door for God to work in your life. (Jeremiah 29: 12-14)
Get In The Boat. Do Your Part.
From Nose To Toes!
Shane / #16…. The1SixProject.com
(Yes, Sharing Is Encouraged 👊🏻)