One Who Comes Alongside to Help

by Stan Ott:
 
I was waiting  in the hospital for a routine blood test when I became aware of a strained mumbling voice nearby. Looking up I saw a good-looking man in his early 40's in a wheelchair having difficulty speaking and clearly sitting uncomfortably. An older gentleman, almost certainly his dad, was trying to arrange a supportive pillow behind his head. Then I saw the sign on the wall next to them, "Speech Therapy."

Something about it was unspeakably sad. I do not know if he is an injured veteran or suffering from some terrible affliction but this young man in the prime of life is in a deep hole and his father is in there with him.

As I was heading out of the hospital I was immensely aware of the gift of health and then of the thought, “Go back and say something.” I wondered what that would be and if it would be invasive. I paused puzzling and then headed for the exit except I found my legs taking me back the way I had come.

I knew somehow my mind was not directing my steps and I wondered what I would say. I walked right up to the old gentleman and his son looked them in the eye and said, "I feel impelled to tell you I am praying for you. May God bless you." The gentleman immediately and sincerely replied, “Thank you,” as he continued to adjust the pillow for his uncomfortable son.

This episode had nothing to do with me. My gesture of concern may have taken five seconds. That father is offering care 24 hours a day every day. The true paraclete, the one who comes alongside to help, comes alongside for the long haul.

God did want me to see something and to say something. I left overwhelmed with the feeling of sadness for this family and the deep awareness of those close to me and others who are in similar places of suffering. 

It may be a cliché to say it, but when our Lord said these words, he actually meant them, " “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens,” Matthew 11:28* "...weep with those who weep,” Romans 12:15 and “Comfort, O comfort my people” Isaiah 40:1.

by Stan  Ott
Feb. 17, 2015
Perspective

Praying in the Midst of Financial Disaster

Philip Yancey describes 3 levels of prayer during financial problems.  The first stage is “HELP!”  For those who face a job loss or huge medical bill, prayer is an outlet for fear and worry.  God wants us to come honestly to Him, like a child asking for help. 

Look at Jesus’ night in Gethsemane, when facing death. He dropped to the ground and felt overwhelmed.  In his anguish, his prayer began as “Take this cup from me,” and changed to “May your will be done.”  In the trial scenes that followed, Jesus was calmer; his prayer had relieved his anxiety, renewed his trust in his Father, and gave Him courage to face the cross.

The second stage of prayer is MEDITATION and REFLECTION.  Okay, my savings account is gone; what can I learn from this?  A financial crisis presents an opportunity to identify what I base my life on.  If my ultimate trust was in my financial security, my life’s foundation isn’t going to last.  Do you handle your finances in a way that honors God?  Do you reflect or meditate in your prayers about your finances?  Psalms 8, 32, 36, and 111 have examples of reflective prayers; try praying one of those Psalms in your own words.

The third level of prayer is the most difficult: I need God’s help in taking my eyes off my own problems in order to LOOK WITH COMPASSION AT OTHERS..  Jesus taught us to pray, “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”  So God calls us to make the world more like heaven.  When a financial disaster leads us to open our eyes to the needs of others, it’s a sign of this level of prayer. 

A young man developed a successful accounting business, and was able to save a significant sum for his retirement.  But disaster struck, and he lost everything.  But his struggles opened his eyes to others who suffered financial loss, and his experience gave him empathy for others who suffered losses.  In the midst of his financial crisis, he was lead to pray for others in crisis.  God doesn’t waste a disaster.