At some point in life, we are all going to be faced with heartache, loss, failure, disappointment, conflict and other painful struggles. Sometimes we will experience these things personally, but other times, we will watch as people around us are faced with a crisis. It’s important to ask ourselves—what kind of friend am I when things get hard?
“And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers…” – Malachi 4:6
A very distinct memory I’ve carried with me since I was 15 years old is the day I got my driver’s license. It’s not the actual test that has lingered with me; it’s not holding my license for the first time or even finally being able to drive on my own.
“For I would say, my Children you are coming into a new season. So do not think it’s strange, when a new thing is being birthed, that you are under tremendous pressure. For there is pressure when I do new things. For I know it’s coming, but the enemy wants to stop and avert your destiny.
At some point in all of our relationships, we will hurt someone or end up hurt ourselves. This is not a fun fact, but it is the inevitable outcome of imperfect people interacting with each other in a broken world.
The idea of loving others and being loved sounds so good, so noble, so worthy. And it certainly is essential to life. But the reality of loving well looks far less glamorous than the romanticized notions we get in our head.
For the Lord would say, “There are many harassments coming against you. There are many things that my Word says are like little foxes that are coming to eat your vine, to cause you to feel unsettled, to cause you to feel like everything will not be ok.”
He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.’” (Acts 13:22)
Of all the great men and women in the Bible, only David was said to have been a man after God’s own heart. We know David wasn’t perfect, and his relationships with others certainly weren’t perfect either.
When people hear the phrase “It’s not a religion; it’s a relationship,” they generally associate it with the idea of personal relationship with God. However, people can also approach their human relationships with a “religious” attitude that can suck the joy right out of those connections.
Do you realize that you have seen a glimpse of God today?
Every time you look into the face of another human being, you get a glimpse of God. It is one of the ways He chooses to reveal Himself.
And the Lord would say, “I am bringing new waves of grace. For haven’t I said my grace is sufficient for you? Haven’t I said that when you are weak, I am strong? So this day know that you need many answers, you don’t know what to do, but I still have everlasting arms. They are still available for you, if you run into my arms, if you run to me rather than getting caught up in the problems you’re facing, in the challenges you’re facing.”
