I received a disturbing letter from someone who wants to meet with me and she ended her letter with “I’m so lost and I know I need help”. I responded immediately and asked her to call, or write me to set up a time to meet, but have not heard a word since.
I cannot get this off my mind.
When people cry out for help in such a desperate manner we need to take notice. My brother told his estranged wife and his children that he was contemplating suicide and his children found a suicide note that he’d started composing a full four days before he pulled the trigger.
He was despondent and without hope. He was reaching out for help, but unfortunately, in spite of his threatening to do so, no one actually thought he would go through taking his own life, (or obviously they would have stayed with him and tried to get him some help).
It’s too late now and it still haunts all who were with him in those final days as to what “might have been” had they picked up the phone and called me to let me know what was going on, or if they would have called a pastor, or the authorities whereby he could have been admitted into a “psych” ward.
I told one of my friends just yesterday that surveys indicate that 82% of respondents to a poll stated that they had lost hope. For some it was a marriage, others, a prodigal child or some other family member, for others it was financial problems and/or ever getting a good job, some had lost hope that they may know peace in their lives, many don’t believe that America can ever be restored, and of course there are always those who think their health cannot be restored; the list is long and depressing.
Imagine an omnipresent God who like a cell phone signal is everywhere at once. He sees it all. Envision the suffering, sadness, pain, anguish, heartache, and grief that He must see all over the world.
I have little doubt that I could offer hope to the young lady who wrote me and that things can (and will) dramatically improve in her life, provided she will surrender her problems and her life to Jesus Christ. It’s frustrating that she will not return my e-mail or call me. I fear for her life and I grieve over her.
I cannot conceive how it must make God feel to see so many that could be healed, if those who are hurting would just invite Him into their lives. I know that it has to grieve Him.
And don’t think for a minute that Jesus merely goes around grinning and is happy all of the time. The shortest verse in the Bible is John 11:35 Jesus wept . . . This He did in response to hearing the sad news of His good friend Lazarus’ death. He knew that He would resurrect him shortly; however, even so He wept. I believe this is in the Bible specifically to tell us that Jesus grieves over us.
David Wilkerson stated that in order for us to have real passion for Christ we must be baptized in anguish.
Do you have real passion for Christ?
If you do you’ll think of others and not just you; and you’ll grieve just like Jesus does over those who are lost and for this nation that is sinking in its sin in a downward spiral.
If you grieve, you will do something about it; you will serve as Jesus served.
Find someone who is hurting today, (you won’t have to look far), and encourage them and invite them to church with you this Sunday. Pray for them like I’m doing for this young lady as soon as I finish writing this, (which by the way is right now) . . .
Matt. 20:28
“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
February 18, 2014 – Click here to listen