I want to open with a story, but it’s not mine to tell. It is an intensely personal story for Sandy and I needed to ask her permission before sharing it. She felt it was right and agreed. I’m grateful she did.
first, a story
During a particularly hard ministry season, Sandy got in her car and drove. She knew where she needed to go but didn’t want to. He’ll just tell me how wrong I am. He’ll quote scripture at me. He’ll tell me to have more faith, she fumed.
I don’t need a Bible verse, I need God to give me a break.
Her car seemed to know where to take her. Next thing my wife knew, she was in the driveway of the very address she didn’t want to see.
Sandy got out of her car and went to the front door and rang the bell. She couldn’t believe she was doing this, but when you’re at the bottom, you’ll risk anything.
The sweet couple who greeted her could see this wasn’t a social call. Sandy bravely fought back tears but it was no use. Tears welled and glistened in her eyes.
“I didn’t want to come,” she told them. “I didn’t know what else to do. I don’t feel I had anywhere else to go.”
Her heart ruptured. Every bottled up emotion was uncorked. No stone got unturned. Nothing in her life was working* and it shamed her to say it out loud to these people.
John and Patti listened quietly. Not once did they interrupt her, but let her disgorge her soul. When it was clear that she was finished, they both reached out and held her hand. There were noticeable tears in both pairs of eyes.
Then John said words that disarmed her. Most gently and tenderly he said,
There’s nothing for you to feel ashamed about, Sandy. Everything that is wrong in your life isn’t your doing. It’s all happening to you and there isn’t a single thing you can change. You have no options. You’re trapped.
John (and Patti) is a pastor, counselor, and friend. They are safe people. Never once did they offer tired rhetoric or warmed-over platitudes. Romans 8:28 didn’t make an appearance (though no less true). Their words said to Sandy’s broken heart, “We see you. We hear you. We feel your sorrow.”
That’s why God sent her there. He had something he wanted her to hear, and the faithful couple who knows us and loves us well were the perfect pair to tell Sandy what was on God’s heart.
a gentle reminder
There are times, as with Sandy, we feel God has abandoned us even if we’re not guilty of sin (see Job). We are “hard pressed on every side” from grievous pressuresthat don’t care one whitabout our capacity to hold our own against them.
Other times, of course, we are the cause of our own pain and need to know God still loves us.
I recently finished both letters to the Corinthians and saw something near the end I’d not noticed before, and I’m very excited to tell you what I found. It’s a very gospel thing.
The Corinthians were a flawed bunch, yes? They were a puffed-up gaggle of rebels, idolaters, and rank adulterers. One could say the city of Corinth was a sewer plant and the church fanned the fumes.
The first letter got written because Paul got word of their antics and needed to address them. There was also a “painful visit” in there. And then he penned a “severe letter” that is lost. We’ll never know what he said in that one.
So I get over to the 7th chapter and am struck dumb by Paul’s heart in spite of all the tough talk. His heart is veritably bursting when he says this:
And this:
Behold, marvel at this curiously gentle stroking:
How extraordinary! To have these emotions and encouraging words for the people at Corinth in spite of how he addressed them in the previous chapter(s) is…well, astounding!
This speaks to my heart about the love of Jesus. Yes, he sees the filth and idolatry and unwholesomeness of our souls (and bodies), and yet his heart is “wide open” to us and speaks gentle words in the middle of his (sometimes) tough love.
He doesn’t over-emphasize the bad to the neglect of the good. You are loved, never forget that.
how does Jesus feel about me?
I would like for you to hear your Savior say this to you right now:
“ I rejoice because I have complete confidence in you.”
2 Corinthians 7:16
Okay, I know that’s what Paul said to the saints in that particular church. I don’t have trouble receiving that because I know Paul was “Christ” to them. He ministered from the same heart as Jesus.
Yes, they vacillated and backslid and married wrong and worshiped wrong and treated one another wrongly. And they would fail and fall again,
but the ones who still clung to Christ, even in their weakness and maddeningly misdirected affections, were gently and warmly loved by the Christ who saved them. He never let them go. His heart remained wide open to them.
Beloved, the same gospel goes for you, too!
The Corinthian believers (though not all) repented. For all their unruliness and out-of-jointedness, still, at the end of the day, they walked in repentance.
If you’re feeling the “severe letter” in your life is justified, don’t think you’re being written off by Jesus. Look to him, not your shame. For the unrepentant he’s writing other words not meant for you. Here’s what he’s gently saying to you:
And Jesus [says] to [you], As for myself, neither do I condemn you. Be proceeding and no longer go on sinning.
John 8:11, Wuest Translation, slightly altered by me
If you’re feeling the crushing weight of life “just because” (as in Sandy’s case), I’m praying for a merciful end to your sorrows.
The Holy Spirit’s eloquence gets muddled through my messengering at times, but I do hope you catch the gentleness of his voice. I pray the broken-hearted hear the Savior’s “I see you. I hear you. I feel your sorrow. Don’t be ashamed. I am for you.”
Selah, beloved.
*For Sandy to drop her hands and lose the fight is against everything that is in her. In this particular season, she was bearing the crushing weight of ‘losing’ her son, being responsible to her ministries at the church, fighting for my health, supporting me in my “daily pressure of anxiety” for our church, and holding down a hard-labor, high demanding job for health insurance.
I would be so blessed if you would share me with your online communities! Thank you!
This is so good !!! Such a great reminder of what the Body of Christ should be doing. Coming along side of , encouraging, lifting each other up. Love me some John and Patti and some Scott and Sandy. Thank you for being those people for me and mine. Off too read Corinthians.
Well it goes without saying, but I must. We love us some KKT too! Sometimes we wish we could rewind the clocks back to *some* of those years 😁 and relive the fellowship times. God is good to bless us with those memories. Thank you, our dear friend.
So timely and encouraging for me….going through one of those “hardpressed on every side” times right now. Our older son is to see a retinal specialist next week due to a blurred vision issue in an eye. Quite concerned for him. God has graciously brought us through a month post op with my husband’s knee replacement along with several other challenges. The Word has been my daily bread to keep me going and I have seen His provision in numerous ways. Thank you for sharing these encouraging insights from 2 Corinthians.
Philippians 4:6,7
My dear friend, I pray your son has received some good news about his eye. I’ll continue praying for him. I rejoice that your husband is on the mend. I pray for you as you carry the weight of caregiving along with a mother’s concern. May the Lord meet you with his Spirit of rest and the sense of his presence in these trials. I’m truly grateful for your generous heart to me!
The retinal specialist told our son he might gain back 90% of his central vision . For now he still has a blurred spot . I know God can restore 100% and that’s my prayer, but most of all I pray the Lord’s will be done. Thank the Lord my husband is able to work again and his knee is progressing in recovery! We thank the Lord for His tender care and faithfulness.
These are all great news! Thank you for sharing and letting me see the goodness of God in your life! Hallelujah!
Oh Scott this is right what I needed today! Thank you for your encouragement, your amazingly refreshing words and speaking truth and pointing us to Jesus! Give Sandy my love! Would love to see y’all!
I’m so happy you felt the relentless and unconditional love of Jesus through these words, Vonda. You’ll never know how your words encourage me! Blessings and love from us! Come see us!
How desperately I want His eyes and heart… for His love to ooze out on the hurting… to know when to encourage and when to just hold… may He do that in me today!! Thank you for reminding us on His love… every time!
I know you do…and even better, he knows it too. May we all lean on and trust the Savior and Great Shepherd of our souls who loves us in ways that melt our hearts and blow our minds!
That was powerful.
“My grace IS sufficient” The biggest word there – “IS”. He didn’t say “was sufficient” or “will be sufficient”, but “IS sufficient”. IS means right now, right where we are.
Thanks so much for visiting! Please join me again at the table of grace soon 🙂
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This is so good !!! Such a great reminder of what the Body of Christ should be doing. Coming along side of , encouraging, lifting each other up. Love me some John and Patti and some Scott and Sandy. Thank you for being those people for me and mine. Off too read Corinthians.
Well it goes without saying, but I must. We love us some KKT too! Sometimes we wish we could rewind the clocks back to *some* of those years 😁 and relive the fellowship times. God is good to bless us with those memories. Thank you, our dear friend.
So timely and encouraging for me….going through one of those “hardpressed on every side” times right now. Our older son is to see a retinal specialist next week due to a blurred vision issue in an eye. Quite concerned for him. God has graciously brought us through a month post op with my husband’s knee replacement along with several other challenges. The Word has been my daily bread to keep me going and I have seen His provision in numerous ways. Thank you for sharing these encouraging insights from 2 Corinthians.
Philippians 4:6,7
My dear friend, I pray your son has received some good news about his eye. I’ll continue praying for him. I rejoice that your husband is on the mend. I pray for you as you carry the weight of caregiving along with a mother’s concern. May the Lord meet you with his Spirit of rest and the sense of his presence in these trials. I’m truly grateful for your generous heart to me!
The retinal specialist told our son he might gain back 90% of his central vision . For now he still has a blurred spot . I know God can restore 100% and that’s my prayer, but most of all I pray the Lord’s will be done. Thank the Lord my husband is able to work again and his knee is progressing in recovery! We thank the Lord for His tender care and faithfulness.
These are all great news! Thank you for sharing and letting me see the goodness of God in your life! Hallelujah!
Oh Scott this is right what I needed today! Thank you for your encouragement, your amazingly refreshing words and speaking truth and pointing us to Jesus! Give Sandy my love! Would love to see y’all!
Vonda
I’m so happy you felt the relentless and unconditional love of Jesus through these words, Vonda. You’ll never know how your words encourage me! Blessings and love from us! Come see us!
How desperately I want His eyes and heart… for His love to ooze out on the hurting… to know when to encourage and when to just hold… may He do that in me today!! Thank you for reminding us on His love… every time!
I know you do…and even better, he knows it too. May we all lean on and trust the Savior and Great Shepherd of our souls who loves us in ways that melt our hearts and blow our minds!
That was powerful.
“My grace IS sufficient” The biggest word there – “IS”. He didn’t say “was sufficient” or “will be sufficient”, but “IS sufficient”. IS means right now, right where we are.
IS.
Amen for that IS.
Thank you so much, Jon. May Christ be your IS in all the coming days, good brother.