HOPE AND HELP

I Was Just Thinking About – HOPE AND HELP.

Almost three years ago, I authored and published the book: Realizing Significance. The gist of it is: “Christians may feel a sense of insignificance in the church world of religious celebrities. Little people tend to estimate their own sense of worth based on the mistaken notion that they are failures or their ministry is not important. Their accomplishments fade in the light of great and famous people.” This month (November 10, 2017), World Magazine wrote a lengthy article on the life of Joni Eareckson Tada and “the remarkable life she’s led as a quadriplegic and disabilities advocate since her diving accident 50 years ago.” At the outset of the accident, Joni passed through times of depression, awareness of her helplessness, and the moments where she felt the weight of hopelessness.

Realizing Significance also touched upon the lives of others, such as. A college President being unable to continue in his work because of the excruciating back pain he was experiencing that limited his work responsibilities; the gifted Musician (Piano and Organ) and composer who lost an arm due to an automobile accident during a severe rain storm; etc. There are others mentioned whose live were changed unalterably. Each one who was illustrated in the book pressed on as best they could with ministry efforts despite their pain and disability.

I also commented about the “unknown” people. Using the text in Mark 4:35-41, “Jesus said: “Let us go across to the other side. And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other little boats were with him.” Using that idea of “little boats”, that thought was expanded to include “little people, little sheep, insignificant people.”

When a violent storm broke out, the disciples in the big boat awakened Jesus because they were frightened to the point that if He did not intervene they would perish. In their panic, they seemingly forgot about the other “little boats” that were tagging along as they sought to follow Jesus.

In life, there is a lot of that occurring. People get focused upon the big vessel, the more important people and the celebrity and forget/neglect the little people, the little sheep and the insignificant people. I appreciate the statement made by Francis Schaeffer: “There are no little people nor are there big people – just consecrated people or non-consecrated people.” For you who may feel as though you are unnoticed, unimportant or insignificant, find hope and help in the words of Psalm 119:49-50, “Remember your word to your servant, in which you have made me hope. This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life.” These words are true and valid for you just as they were for the Psalmist.

Prayerfully – Consider these things with me.