On the day I called, You answered me; You made me bold with strength in my soul. Psalm 138:3 NASB

When was the last time you were so tied up in a repeating pattern that you couldn’t think straight, let alone pray for yourself?

We all fall prey to Satan’s relentless and ‘moment-by-moment, relentless tactics to distract us, discourage us, divide us from others and disable us from experiencing everything that is rightfully ours as adopted members of God’s family’ (adapted from Priscilla Shirer’s study, The Armor of God).

Right now, I have 5 very close friends who are stuck in their muck, like we all get from time to time. Each needs to be reminded of God’s love for him or her:

  • One is preoccupied with guilt over how she mothered poorly
  • Another can’t stop questioning whether he really is a Christian
  • One is afraid to pray for a particular dream, yet he faithfully lifts up so the desires and needs of many others
  • Then there is a dear woman who can’t stop worrying about two emotionally-needy grandchildren.
  • Finally, one finds herself driven to the point of exhaustion as she goes about helping the endless swarm of hurting people in her path.

When we’re locked up, like my friends, we often feel helpless to think straight or pray our way out. Satan preoccupies us to distraction.  That’s why we so desperately need Christian community to help us see clearly.

How do we as brothers and sisters help?

First, we listen with empathy. We enter into their pain so they know they are not alone. Coming alongside and ‘naming’ what they are experiencing spreads healing balm.

Then we pray for them, out loud, right then and there. And we assure them of our continual prayers. We commit to check on them.

Next, if we sense from the Holy Spirit that they are ready, we encourage them to take one tiny step forward. We might ask them to think of something they could do. If they can’t, we might gently suggest a ‘baby step’.

For example, my friend who believes she’s ruined her adult son’s life. Statistically speaking, I think she’s awash in unnecessary guilt. (What mom EVER thinks she did a good job? To some degree we all damaged our kids. Afterall, we ourselves are broken!)

I could be wrong about my friend. So, if there is some legitimate harm she thinks she did, maybe she could write her grown son a letter. Ask him for his forgiveness. It IS possible that he doesn’t recall what lays so heavy on her heart.

If there is nothing, or nothing else, then, she has to leave ‘it’ with the Lord and move on.

Let’s always remind others of the Father’s love for them, that our God IS willing to forgive all. He IS eager and ready to pardon us.

Finally, we help them to call out to the Lord themselves. We might coach them with something like:

Father, help me this day to remember that:

  • you have forgiven me for what I did wrong or failed to do
  • your word assures me that I am yours by faith
  • you invite me to hand over all my worries as well as my desires and dreams for myself and others
  • you haven’t called me to meet all the needs of people I encounter

Holy God, may we and our friends keep in mind that you never created us to be alone or be enough. You formed us to need and depend on you, to stay connected to you by faith in Christ. And you gave us brothers and sisters to help us.  May we embrace our childlikeness, relax and enjoy you as loving and good Father. Amen