Sheltering the Hurting

We shall steer safely through every storm, so long as our heart is right, our intention fervent, our courage steadfast, and our trust fixed on God.  ~St. Francis De Sales

Someone once said, "Tears are words that need to be written." Yesterday a friend of mine posted these words, "Right now the whole world feels full of anger, fear, hurt, betrayal, lies, fury, criticism, helplessness, rejection, bitterness, deception, on and on...my very soul hurts."  

My week away allowed me to step back from life a bit. The sun cleared my head and my sister-in-law listened to all my words until my heart was cleared, too.  Sometimes we need a clearing of our mind and heart. But I wasn't even home until I began to pick up the sad.  

My friend wrote the words of her tears. And while most of my tears were shed in my heart, unbeknownst to my friend,  her words were my tear-words, too.

I have friends who are hurting.  They have been casualties of anger, fear, hurt, betrayal, lies, fury, criticism, helplessness, rejection, bitterness and deception.  Some of them by those who profess to be their friend. Some by the one who promised "until death." Others by the very ones who accepted them into the body of Christ.  

I carry their pain in my hands, their tears mingle with those in my heart. Again, I use the words of my friend, "I feel the heaviness of life so deeply that I can hardly breathe." 

Today as I bowed my head in personal worship, Jesus gently reminded me that I don't need to carry my own sadness or the pain of my friends by myself. "From every stormy wind that blows, from every swelling tide of woes, there is a calm, a sure retreat. 'Tis found beneath the mercy seat."

I huddled under the mercy seat, pouring the pain I held in my hands into the nail-scarred hands of Jesus. He took the tears and bottled them. He stilled the storm within, and calmed the swelling tides.  

Situations haven't changed. Mean-spirited people are still mean. Those who spread untrue gossip are still out there spewing their lies. Life's blows are still painful. Decisions of others haven't changed. Yet when I look at my empty hands and bottled tears, I'm reminded that God's grace, the peace from Jesus that "passes all understanding," and the Holy Spirit's comfort are enough. Enough for me, enough for my friends, and enough for the pain each of you hold in your hands.  

Head for the mercy seat, for the sure retreat. The place where Jesus will pour His oil on your pain. "Your tears are important to God. He has a bottle with your name on it" (Rick Lance).  Let the pain sift through your fingers into His big hands. Wait in His calmness, and in God's timing, glory will crown the mercy seat.

From every stormy wind that blows,
From every swelling tide of woes,
There is a calm, a sure retreat;
’Tis found beneath the mercy seat. 

There is a place where Jesus sheds
The oil of gladness on our heads;
A place than all besides more sweet;
It is the blood bought mercy seat.

There is a scene where spirits blend,
Where friend holds fellowship with friend;
Though sundered far, by faith they meet
Around one common mercy seat.

There, there, on eagles’ wings we soar,
And time and sense seem all no more;
And heaven comes down, our souls to greet,
And glory crowns the mercy seat.  Hugh Stowell

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Sheltering the Hurting

Esther from Shoregirl's Creations  shelters with the beautiful cards she creates:

I love to use books to shelter:

Abby from Little Birdie Blessings creates beautiful images and offers them free to others for use in shelter:

My friend, Eleanor, shelters through hospitality: 

Connie from Family, Home and Life shelters with special homemade gifts and goodies:

Melanie and a few friends made these Rice Bags for the women in our church.  

How do you shelter?  A listening ear? Written encouragement? A thinking-of-you gift? A promise of prayer?