Have you ever been in a situation where you’ve tried to help someone and been rejected at each point of a “helping hand”?  Well, I’m there. There are countless remedies to be incorporated, but it’s refused and the outcome never changes. Over and over, day after day, week after week, and nothing.

Countless times, I’ve fallen on my knees and cried out to the Lord? When are things going to change? Why is there no right remedy? Why doesn’t this person get so desperate to change and want to get better?

What I have received instead? Silence.

I shake my head in disbelief, disappointment, and discouragement, carrying on as best as I can, but constantly consumed with solving the problem at hand. It makes me angry and frustrated that I lash out at the people I love. I ruin my days, and I basically seethe.

I’ll admit, I like to solve things and move on. But when problems linger, I get impatient. No results means no progress. No progress means no desire for improvement. No improvement means an unwillingness to do that which can help. No receptiveness to help is a dead end. And, the cycle starts all over again.

I’ve realized that I may not always be able to control the outcomes of the battles that come my way, even if I want to desperately control those exact situations and circumstances.

If the loved one doesn’t want help, what should one do? Turn a blind eye, wait it out, walk away, etc.? I can’t fight someone else’s battle if they’re not willing to fight for themselves.

Finally, a whisper… Ci penso io. (Italian for “I’ll take care of it”.)

Will you, God? How? What am I supposed to do in the meantime?

And then again, a whisper…

  • Get on your knees and continue to pray fervently. ( Hebrews 11:6. But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is the rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.)
  • Pray without ceasing. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.)
  • Intercede for that person. (Hebrews 7:25. Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.)
  • Gaze upon the One who can make it happen. (Hebrews 12:2. Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.)

Most importantly…

  • Don’t give up on the person(the loved one),
  • Be kind, but don’t compromise the truth and the consequences of those truths,
  • Keep your peace. Don’t let them steal your joy.

When all else fails, turn to Him.

 

References:

Photo by Tara Winstead: https://www.pexels.com/photo/words-written-on-notepad-page-8406967/