Have they lost hope?

The scripture for today, June 11 (6/11), is Job 6:11 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

07-Jairus' Daughter-MediumCover“What strength do I have, that I should still hope? What prospects that I should be patient?”

Many people use the expression, “patience of Job.” But he had on-and-off patience, for he was very sick. By descriptions he gave of himself ~ sores, rancid breath, low voice, partial blindness, skin turned hard and black, bloating, nightmares, extreme pain, unrecognized by his closest friends ~ some believe he had a grotesque form of elephantiasis leprosy.

What did he need from his friends? He surely didn’t get it, for they spent their time trying to prove he had sinned, and God was right to be punishing him. His reply? “I have heard many things like these; miserable comforters are you all! Will your long-winded speeches never end? What ails you that you keep on arguing?” (Job 16:2f).

So how do you comfort someone who feels utterly hopeless? You certainly do not put the blame on them, nor do you tell them it’s “all in your head’ or to “snap out of it.”  You can share times when we felt hopeless. You can weep with them. You can hold their hand. You can sit with them in silence. You can pray aloud for them. (Some people have never heard their name mentioned in a prayer.)

And you need to let them talk. Sometimes they will say things they don’t mean in the long run, but at that brief moment, they do. Or sometimes, they need to talk through things they are unsure about. They may even say contradictory things.

At one time, Job said, “Surely, O God, you have worn me out; you have devastated my entire household….God assails me and tears me in his anger and gnashes his teeth at me” (16:7f). But another time he said, “I know that my Redeemer lives and that in the end, he will stand upon the earth….I myself will see him with my own eyes ~ I and not another. How my heart yearns within me” (19:25f).

Do you have a very sick friend? Do you have a friend who has lost hope?  Let your heart yearn with them.

.

07-Jairus' Daughter-ThumbnailCoverA CHILD’S BIBLE KIDS:  JAIRUS’ DAUGHTER.  She was lively Leah and very happy from the time she was born.  But, when she was 12, she got very sick. The doctor came, but could not make her better. Her father was a rabbi and decided to ask Jesus to heal her. He found Jesus and begged him to come heal his little girl. But a surprise happened.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this……….http://bit.ly/JairusDtr                                                       https://inspirationsbykatheryn.wordpress.com/a-childs-bible-kids-book-7-jairus-daughter/?frame-nonce=dcd871ac5b

Now, where’d I leave my light? Oh, there it is!

The scripture for today, April 21 (4/21), is Mark 4:21 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

03-Naaman'sMaid-ThumbnailCover“Do you bring in a lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed? Instead, don’t you put it on its stand?”

Jesus said something similar in Matthew 5:14f, “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”

Light? I have a light? Oh, I forgot.  Besides, it’s just one little flame.

Little? Little?  In a world of darkness, one little flame is all they need to give them hope and lead them toward a larger light.

Do you spend your energy on yourself and family? That is good. Your family needs your light. But try going farther. Look around.  Your neighborhood, your school, your job, your club, your community.

Someone is in darkness and needs your light. Always keep looking around. Keep searching for little nooks and crannies in the lives of others where you can bring the light of a good deed to someone’s world.

Dare to spread light over them so they can know where they are going. They need Jesus’ precious light shining through you. Your light may be the only one some people will ever see.

Where is your light? Is it hidden? Can you find it? Do you know where you left it? Oh, there it is.

.

03-Naaman'sMaid-ThumbnailCoverA CHILD’S BIBLE KIDS:  NAAMAN’S MAID.  Nara was 12 years old and so happy when she met Elisha, the prophet. He performed miracles. Then she was kidnapped by Syrian soldiers and made a slave.  Her master was Naaman, captain of the army. One day he got sick and she told him how he could get well.  Will he listen to a mere slave girl?  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this……….https://bit.ly/38OR4qT 

https://inspirationsbykatheryn.wordpress.com/a-childs-bible-kids-book-3-naamans-maid/

.