Just Point them to Christ

I'm a talker. I mean I love communicating ideas and sharing thoughts with people. However, there's a lesson I've had to learn over the last few years that has been challenging but effective from the Lord. As a communicator, I often have the confidence that I am able to somehow bring about words that will be helpful or perhaps minister to people. I've found through personal experience and struggles in discipleship that is more often not the case.  Instead, the counsel or advice is rarely heeded and it causes my heart to harden in pride as I see it happen. I realize this all sounds quite prideful. The Lord allows us to learn compounding lessons if we're willing to turn the judgement back on ourselves.

The issue, however, is seldom something we can actually provide words to fix, yet, we always hope they'll do the trick. Perhaps a quick injection of some verse or a life lesson distilled in to a short bout of advice and the person will ideally be on the mend and thanking you all the way.  Unfortunately, life and situations are always much more complicated and even if communicated well, words can rarely be delivered in such a way as the receiving party will understand them as intended.

It takes time. I don't mean that time heals all wounds kind of time but from the one that is trying to help, it takes more than words. It takes, compassion, patience, and if at all possible, empathy. The problem with empathy is that first you must suffer so that you can understand the pain.  When ministering to someone the goal is not to fix their problems. It is to encourage and assist them to work through their situation in a way that strengthens them in their relationship with God individually.  It's not a quick fix like a shot of advice seeks to give. Instead it's often even a trial for the one seeking to help, but enriches both parties when we bear one another's burdens. Is there someone in your life with issues that you are just plain frustrated with? Are you worn down from trying to advise them? Perhaps this is an opportunity for you to go before the Lord in fasting or prayer on their behalf and patiently point them to Christ. He is the actual healer. He is the real power. Just remember that trust precedes faith and without faith we cannot do a thing.