December 6, 2010
“Come quickly sweet Jesus” was the cry of many hearts tonight as we heard Matt plead before God in a very real and urgent way. Leaving church tonight my heart was heavy and longing for the return of Jesus. There is something about this Christmas season that is exciting and joyful, but at the same time for me it seems to be a season when the brokenness of this fallen world is very transparent. God is so gracious to draw me near and comfort me with the Hope of the gospel when I become overwhelmed by the consequences of the sin in this world, but at the same time He is gracious to allow me to feel the weight of sin and to hurt alongside the suffering. So as I long and cry for Jesus to come quickly, I wait and pray and petition for the hurting and suffering He has given me the privilege to know and has laid on my heart…
- A single dad raising two boys who were both born with a rare syndrome, one of which has very noticeable and handicapping symptoms, sit in their apartment tonight wondering if the eviction notice will be on the door in the morning. This is an all too familiar scene as it happens on a regular basis. When it’s not rent it is food when it is not food it is gas when it is not gas it is phone calls explaining to the doctor that he didn’t have the gas money to make it to the appointment once again and dealing with the guilt and shame of setting your sons surgery back another six months.
- Family after family living with a special needs a child. An 8 year old who can’t talk or walk or dress himself but understands so much or a 16 year old who desires the normalcy of high school but is trapped inside this body that is so physically limiting. Moms and dads who never get breaks from dressing and feeding and toileting and never get to hear “I love yous” or watch their child take their first step or play soccer or go on their first date or off to college. Day’s consisting of therapy sessions and doctors appointments and a constant struggle of trying to find the balance of caring for a completely dependent child and not missing out on the lives of their “normal” children.
- A family so grateful that their 2 year old daughter is in remission. That her brain cancer is gone but every day faced with the side effects of that surgery which saved their daughter’s life. Their only child has a portion of her brain gone and now faced with the very real fact that it is going to take her a long time to walk or talk.
- A single mom living in her one bed room apartment with bars around the outside and water dripping down from the above apartment and cracks in the windows. Everyday facing the fact that she lives in condemned apartments but can do nothing about it. If she makes any reports then the apartments are shut down and her family along with all the other residents are on the streets. A Landlord who is aware of this predicament and uses it to his advantage.
- Timothy, a 16 year old boy that is daily faced with the reality and the weight of knowing that he just has 2 more years. 2 more years and he turns 18 and ages out of the system. 2 more years to find his “forever parents” but the chances of that are not looking too promising. Move after move and the only constant in his life is his wallet with a very outdated picture of his younger brother. Just the time he settles into to a place, it is time to move again. A lifetime of detachment, medication, abuse, neglect, rejection, yet another diagnosis and new medication, rages, restraints, foster parents that lock you out of your house, residential treatment facilities, roommates, and on and on the list goes.
- A father-in-law who has left his family. A father-in-law that feels as though what he has done is so “bad” that he can never be forgiven. A father-in-law that is buried so deep in pride and guilt and shame that he has yet to meet his grandsons. A father-in-law who has not tasted the love and grace of our Savior.
As I process through the weightiness of this, I find comfort in knowing that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us (Romans 8:18). I find much hope in knowing that my powerful and mighty Savior is returning and redeeming this broken, fallen world to Himself! I find much peace in knowing that one day there will not be a place for starvation or abuse or eviction notices or condemned apartments or communication devices or wheelchairs or feeding tubes or CPS or chemotherapy or adultery or pain or suffering or tears. One day we will be with Jesus in all His glory. Until then, we pray and struggle and persevere and do life well all the while crying out “come quickly sweet Jesus.”
I'm so glad you're blogging!!!! Looking forward to reading!
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