Finding Peace in the Pauseنموونە

Your Response

It's easy to be self-absorbed when focused on attaining something from God. It's very easy to forget about others and their problems or breakthroughs. How do you respond when someone shares their joy with you, especially when it's something you have been waiting for? For example, when that friend gets engaged, yet there's no sign of interest from those around you, how do you respond? When I ask for your response, I mean how your heart responds, not the words that come from your lips. How does your heart respond as God sees your heart? Do you respond with bitterness, jealousy, or no care in the world, or rejoice? It is important to rejoice with others in the waiting season and to share the pain and burden of those hurting.

Sometimes, we trivialize the pain of others because we think that our situation is worse than theirs. In fact, what you see might be the tip of the iceberg. So again, how does your heart respond to the pain of others? Are you able to genuinely empathize or even offer some help or assistance? Or do you wallow in self-pity?

2 Kings 4:8-17 recounts the story of the Shunammite woman, whose great hospitality and generosity toward the prophet Elisha birthed an answered prayer. Though she had a need, she didn't wallow in self-pity or make that her focus. She saw an opportunity to help and took it. Touched by her generosity, Elisha was eager to reward her and prophesied to her need. Though her husband was old, and they had no children, she gave birth to her child within a year of the prophecy.

Sometimes, your helping hand is the missing connection to your destiny helper. So don't be so consumed by your desires that you forget to be someone else's answered prayer. We are all connected, so your help might be the key to your answer.

Reflection:

Who can you congratulate today? Who can you pray with today? Who can you be of assistance to?