The wonder of God always amazes me. This morning I boiled eggs for my breakfast and lunch. I packed it away in my little plastic bag (my way of recycling … LOL) and put it in my tote. My tote sat in the passenger’s seat, unmolested in any way, as I drove to work.
In my office, I began to take from my tote the things I needed for my day including my food and snacks. As I separated the food items for what needed to be refrigerated and what could go in my cabinets, I saw that 2 of my eggs were cracked. One looked like a puzzle of a shell and the other looked like car glass when it’s hit by a rock with an impact point and little cracks spreading out from it.
I felt bad for my eggs.
However, as badly as their shells were damaged, they would still serve their purpose. They would provide my nourishment for the morning and give strength to my bones. They would satisfy my desire for healthy food.
Sometimes, we forget that people are like these cracked eggs. On the outside they appear broken, cracked, and unusable, but God, never wastes the hardships in life. Instead, he takes what he has put on the inside of the person, and uses that person to feed and nourish others who have been broken, cracked, and rendered unusable by society (and sometimes, the church).
When I listen to people who struggle with mental issues (suicide thoughts, bipolar, anxiety, depression) openly relay the glory of God, and how God gives them exactly what they need to push through these too often unspoken struggles, I KNOW THERE IS A GOD! We are far too silent in the church about mental illness, in my opinion, which may explain why they aren’t flocking to join with us. Just my opinion.
Too many Christians look down their noses at people and say, “they’ll never amount to anything or they crazy; I’m not messing with them.” But I praise God every day when I see and hear and talk to these very same people whom God uses in mighty ways to reach others who are without the hope believing Christians have. They are transparent about their struggles with mental issues and they openly shed light on the fact that God is a very present help. They speak openly and boldly on how God is right there with them, helping them body slam the lies the liar whispers to them. How God is there helping slay the dragons that nip and breathe fire upon their thoughts and minds in those dark hours. And how God wants to help them, too, if they will only let him into their lives.
Don’t count them out! That family member, loved one, or enemy whose shell is broken, cracked, and appears unusable. The power of God MOVES MOUNTAINS and PARTS SEAS; it causes the SON to shine, and the HOLY SPIRIT to apply healing ointment to comfort as He guides them back into the light of day. And this I know to be true because “it is written” for my ensample and example!
Don’t count them out! Instead, pray for them, listen to them, counsel with them, and both pray for them and with them. Don’t miss your divine appointment to meet someone right where they are at in their life – right where you are in yours. Try educating or learning a little something about mental health.
Don’t count them out! – God didn’t count you out, now, did he?
“Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.”
James 5:11
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