It’s been a bad day, a tough day. There have been arguments and trials, weaknesses and weariness - just another day. I am thankful for every day, and taken in their entirety, each day is amazing and wonderful. But even on the best of days, it is possible to hit some rough spots. On a bad day, those rough spots just seem to crop up more frequently, requiring more and more energy just to get back on track, let alone make progress.

Sitting here, it’s easy to get lost in the worst parts of the day. It’s easy to get angry and depressed - incredibly easy actually. I can’t let that happen but I can’t do it alone. Without consciously seeking the Lord on days like today, my best option would be to tune out and turn off the world. It keeps me from getting upset, but it is also keeps me from doing anything positive. We are called to love those around us, even when we don’t feel like loving ourselves. We are called to give to the Lord, even when we don’t feel like giving someone the time of day. We are called to be compassionate and strong Christians, even, and especially when, it’s tough to summon a compassionate word for those that hurt us, intentionally or not.

The Lord offers help. Sometimes that help ravages the heart. As I sit here and feel bad for myself, it makes me sick. What in my life is so hard that a child from Kenya or Haiti wouldn’t jump at the chance to switch places with me? Thank you Lord. For putting my struggles into perspective and allowing your love and compassion to shine through.

If I can get through the hard days in my own life and maintain compassion for others, it means I am growing stronger. We all have different levels of strength and different struggles. Just like the body, the spirit grows most during times of extreme exertion. I am struggling to open my heart to others, so I continue to pray for the strength to grow more like Paul. He writes in 2 Corinthians 11:28-30 (NIV):

“Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn? If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.”

~ Marq Caughell

This entry was posted on Sunday, September 16th, 2007 at 2:00 am and is filed under Week 4: Ravaged by a Holy Fire. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.