I've been kind of "bummed out" for the last couple of days.
Sunday night one of CF's most vulnerable people arrived in a tormented state which got worse after a few minutes. One of the other guys and I went back to him & tried to calm him down.
I could see the torment in his eyes and feel the fear in him when I put my hand on his chest.
I was struck by the feeling that I had nothing to offer - sure I could pray and see him get a little more peaceful but he left just as tormented as when he came in which really bothered me.
No one should be able to walk into a place where God's people are gathered in His name and leave as tormented as this guy did.
I wish I could have been like Jesus or Peter or John and just reached out my hand, said "be healed" & watched him walk away whole.
Where is that kind of power today?
How do we access it?
How do we use it without turning things into a circus?
How do we use it without becoming proud as individuals and a church?
I don't know the answer - I just know I'm tired of seeing all the hurting & tormented people out there.
16 comments:
Bob. I totally hear you. I was there a couple of weeks ago.
That same guy stops in a lot during the week, and I hate that I can't help him the way I want to.
But I know that a lot of people have tried to command him to be healed, and it not only hasn't happened, it's made him worse, because he thinks he doesn't have enough faith.
I think he keeps coming back to our church, because we keep repeating to him the simple truths - "We love you. We are your friends. You're safe here."
It's not quite enough of an answer for me. But it helps. It reminds me of why I'm here - for vulnerable people like that.
And thanks for going back there on Sunday night. At the time, I remember thinking that I was grateful that we had two people who naturally went back to try to help him, instead of everyone pretending it wasn't happening, or worse, kicking him out.
Any & all kudos should go to Frank. He handled the situation perfectly, I thought. Loving (letting the person know how much he loved him and how much CF loved him)yet very firm & preventing the situation from getting worse.
Pondering on this the past couple of days ... the phrase that comes to mind is "things of heaven and stuff of earth". I think it's a Rich Mullins song (and may not be an exact quote!)
I think it's the whole now and not yet the "here and the there" element of the Christian walk. While healing (emotionally, mentally, physically) IS a reality and something we pray for and hope for and believe in, it's not always something that comes to be.
I don't know why people aren't healed of cancer.
I don't know why some are tormented.
I think it's all part of having our eyes focused on the THERE and living with our feet on the HERE.
Its just frustrating sometimes - knowing the power to set these people free is real yet not seeing it happen.
"How do we use it without turning things into a circus?"
A question very well posed.
It is so frustrating to know that the healing of power of God is real.. but not seeing it work or seeing it work as a cheap parlour trick.
I've been battling with similar questions lately.. although for me I think of it this way: It is so easy to believe in God and have faith when He is answering my prayers (with a YES) and giving me my way.. it is much more challenging, and much more faith-building to commit to believing even when it looks like my prayers are going unanswered and I'm living with disappointment..
my faith is much more real and much more dependent on relationship than on a good-fairy-Jesus who waves his wand and makes my life prettier.
Bob - I so hear what you are saying.
I can't tell you how often my heart just aches for people.
And so many times, in so many situations, I've focused all my energy, every ounce that I could muster and then some, praying for someone. And nothing happens, except that I'm really tired.
In a strange way, people like that tormented man are a blessing to us. (oh, I hope I don't say this the wrong way...)
Jesus loves that man just as much as He love you or me. If that man, or a homeless guy, or a drug addict, or a thief was the only man on earth, Jesus STILL would have come and died for that person.
That man, or the thief on the cross beside Jesus, is a living breathing example of the greatness of God's Love and the diversity of His creation.
I'm not saying I want that man to suffer, nor would I say his suffering is good - It's easy for me to say just about anything because I don't live in his head and have that pain 24/7. But the guy is still a blessing.
I'm always impressed when people who suffer continue to walk with God. I don't know that I could be strong enough if I had to deal with the burdens that he does. He keeps coming to church and he continues to make an effort. That makes him pretty cool in my books, regardless of what the outside world might think of him. (and yes, I recognize that no one is saying anything negative about him... I just went off on a tangent. Too much coffee today, maybe.)
sheepdog - maybe you need a waitress that won't give you coffee! haha
Philip Yancey in his book on "Prayer" talks about stuff like this. I am still reading and loving this book.
Bob - when I think about this stuff, I remember some smart person once telling me that Jesus healed every sick person He met, so theoretically we should be able to pray for their healing and see results as well.
But I think that smart person was wrong.
In John 5, "a great number of disabled people" were at the pool. Only one got healed.
I don't know why, but it had nothing to do with faith, that's for sure. I don't understand or like that some sickness gets healed and some doesn't. But maybe ministry to the sick, is not just about healing. Maybe it's about being with the sick when they're suffering too.
christine - "my faith is much more real and much more dependent on relationship than on a good-fairy-Jesus who waves his wand and makes my life prettier."
well said.
I read a book recently (I think one of Mark Bell's) where he refered to everyone as an "image bearer".
I now try to think of everyone I meet in that light.
Patti: I know that in John 5 only one of many got healed but at least one was healed - right now I'd setttle for just seeing that one.
Yeah. Me too.
The book was written by Rob Bell not Mark - Mark is a new Maple Leaf.
Well here is my 2 cents worth. I'm with Patti's "smart" friend. I believe that everyone should be healed. Not sure why they are not, but I do believe that Jesus died for our "sins" & "sicknesses".
My question has always been: Why do we not have to beg for forgiveness of sins yet people think we have to beg for healings?
I think they both come easy and by grace. Not sure why it is that some get healed some don't, but then again, why do some people get saved and some don't? Choice?
Just keep doing what you do Bob. Keep caring for and loving people. You have such a tender heart and a peacefull spirit. Just being there with that person will have an effect on them, even if you can't see it right away. If you are following Jesus, then signs and wonders will follow you. I don't think we will always see the full impact of what we do in this side of life. Jesus healed out of compassion for the person. He loved them. If we do that, even if it seems at the time nothing happens, we can't see what is going on in the inner man. All I know is we can't go wrong by caring and don't ever stop trying.
are you still bummed out?
yeah - still "bummed" BUT today I'm bummed because yesterday we had Thanksgiving at my son's, which was great but it means - no left over turkey for Bob.
But my better half is talking about cooking up a bird this week just so we can have our own left overs.
What a woman!!
"no leftover turkey for Bob"
That is very sad.
We divvy up leftovers in our family.
Except for pinwheels - Alison & I eat them all as quickly as possible.
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