Are You Struggling?

 Prayers offered in faith will restore them from sickness and bring them to health. The Lord will lift them up from the floor of despair; and if the sickness is due to sin, then God will forgive their sins.

James 5:15 

 

I don't know about you, but when I am struggling, and those times do come, I'm leery of letting others know about my struggles.  Why?  Because I don't want to hear anyone's opinions. I don't really want to hear anyone's philosophies.  Most situations with which we struggle don't have any quick fixes.  

 

Let be be blunt, I have struggled with my weight for most of my adult life. And I have had people criticize me, judge me, condemn me, and give me all kinds of advice on how to "overcome" this struggle.  I have been told (unsolicited, mind you) "if you want to lose weight, stop eating", "if you want to lose weight, eat only green vegetables", "if you want to lose weight, try hypnosis", "if you want to lose weight, do a fast".  The advice was free, not helpful, and not appreciated.

 

Think about this, when someone is struggling with a marital issue, do you REALLY think they need our unsolicited counsel?  Let me share something thing with you, if I hear of someone enduring a struggle I have learned to simply ask if I can help.  If my offer is refused, I don't take offense.  If my offer is accepted, I do NOT rush in with lots of advice. I pray for them.  I ask they would like to talk about what's on their mind, listen to what they are saying, and then ask if them how I might walk with them through their struggles.  

 

Are YOU struggling?  Do you know someone who is struggling?  The first thing we need to do is pray for them, that God will give them hope and peace.  Then we need to pray for ourselves, that we will listen completely and be able to understand their struggles.  Advice and counsel should be offered so that it brings hope!  Try it.