How would I feel if I were you? That's a deep question, 'cause I'm not you.
I haven't lived your life of pain. I haven't made the same mistakes at the same time that you did, although I've made plenty of mistakes in my life, I'm not you. So, how could I know how you would feel. Can I crawl inside of you and feel for you? No, I can't anymore than the man in the moon. But, what I can do is have empathy for you based on my own struggles in this life. That's as close as I can come to knowing how you feel.
Can you experience the loss of a child dying in your arms? No, I don't think that you can. As much as you can sympathize, you've never had a child of yours die in your arms. Have you suffered loss in this life? Have you had hardships? Sure you have! We ALL have! But, my loss is not your loss and your loss is not my loss. They are both loses, but there is no way that I can truly feel your pain, or for you to feel mine.
I can only relate to you on our common ground. We both love God, we both struggle. We have both suffered loss in our lives and questioned God with, "Are you SURE that you want ME? After all, I've made a pretty BIG mess of things, and I'm sure there are some folks who may even doubt your salvation in me!" Are you sure that you can conform me to the image of your dear son? Well, good luck then. You've got more faith in me, than I have in me AND.....
" I think God just loves it when we double dog dare Him to change us!"
It's like He just turns up the heat to cook our goose a little faster! LOL
I think I smell smoke, "F I R E ! ! !"
It is not about feeling what the other person went through or trying to walk in their shoes. You are correct, no one wears the shame shoe size. One persons "hell" is not the others, experience is relative.
ReplyDeleteOn occassion there is no motive of wanting sympathy or empathy.....it is being able to be safe enough to be transparent and vulnerable enough to say how you are inside.....without judgement, without being wrong or or right.....just being. To have someone pray WITH you and not just FOR you.
What is "safe enough to be transparent or vulnerable" before the Father ???I don't believe that it is even about that, chipmunk. It's about trusting GOD to do in us what we can't do ourselves. It is Faith. He gives it. You either have it or you don't. It's BELIEVING that God is able to complete the Good work that He has begun in you. That is what faith is. I can pray for you, with you, or without you. But God is the one speaking TO you about YOU. DO YOU BELIEVE? If you do, then you don't have to try to protect yourself. If you feel the need to protect yourself, maybe you are still in unbelief. Regardless, God knows your heart's desire. He wants to HEAR from YOU, regarding YOU. Capisci?
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