SHAME OFF YOUSample

Day 7.

EMPOWERED EMPATHY

The Bible is not silent about the dilemma of our pain and emotional turmoil. From cover to cover, we have an honest record about a diversity of people with great faith, who at the same time experienced anxiety, fear, stress, deep despondency, and depression. Nothing is swept under the carpet. The Bible is less sanitised and domesticated than we think.

How many of the following “cries of the heart” can you relate to? Why is their cry relatable to your life?

Adam: "I heard You in the garden, and I was afraid…” [Genesis 3:10, NIV]

Rachel: “So she said to Jacob, 'Give me children, or I'll die!' "[Genesis 30:1, NIV] 

Moses: "I can't carry all these people by myself! The load is far too heavy! If this is how You intend to treat me, just go ahead and kill me. Do me a favour and spare me this misery!" [Numbers 11:14-15, NLT]

Elijah: “I have had enough, LORD, he said. Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” [1 Kings 19:4, NIV]

Job: “Cursed be the day of my birth, and cursed be the night when I was conceived. Let that day be turned to darkness. Let it be lost even to God on high, and let it be shrouded in darkness.” [Job 3:3-4, NLT]

David: “O LORD, why do you stand so far away? Why do you hide when I need you the most?” [Psalm 10:1, NLT]

Jeremiah: “I have cried until the tears no longer come. My heart is broken, my spirit poured out in agony, as I see the desperate plight of my people...” [Lamentations 2:11, NLT]

Jesus: “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death...” [Matthew 26:38, NIV]

FOR THOUGHT AND CONTEMPLATION

“All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.”
—2 Corinthians 1:3-4 [NLT]

Today, allow God to leverage your brokenness so you can connect authentically and compassionately with other broken people. 

Pray for an opportunity to encourage and comfort someone who is struggling. 

What is God’s heartbeat for this person?