Detach?

I know how to detach, disassociate, and disconnect myself and my emotions from people who seem to be on a self-destructive path. I know how to stay uninvolved and isolate myself from them by pretending that I really do not care what they choose to do with their lives. 

But, when I put on an uncaring pretense, I put it on for the sake of self protection. I’ve discovered from personal experience that although emotional detachment shields me from feeling hurt, it also severs my life from theirs. I have to ask myself, “Do I really want to eliminate any possibility of ever connecting with them again? Do I really want to give up any chance I might have in the future to offer them a thread of hope when they’ve lost all hope?”  

Granted, I am not the Savior of the world, but I know the Savior of the World. And, I’m certain that the Savior of the World wants others to know him and experience a changed life because of him. 

So, when I am tempted to put on the pretense of not caring about someone in order to shield myself from the emotional pain that accompanies caring, I talk to God about it. 

I tell God, “I’ve tried loving this person in how I think I ought to love them, but my way has not worked any wonders. So, tell me, how exactly do you want me to love them?”

There is never a full-proof, guaranteed, one size fits all answer to this question, but God does always answer. 

First of all, I’m told that loving someone who is in the darkness takes shining a light. The Light dwells inside of me, so don’t hide the Light. 

Secondly, expect difficulties as a result of your faith. Running into trouble is normal, but we don’t have to get depressed. Surely, we’ll feel afraid too, but God promises never to leave our side. 

Keeping quiet about our faith does not diminish God’s faithfulness, dilute his power or derail his plan. But we are the ones who lose out. If we press the mute button on words that express our faith, then we won’t experience the wonders of God’s faithfulness, his unprecedented power or be a witness to his miraculous plan. As believers who believe, then saying what we believe is simply a response to Who we believe. 

Don’t Give Up!

I’ve often felt like throwing up my hands, walking away and giving up on some people. Their lives seem hopeless, in a state of irreparable repair, and beyond change. Yet, God reminds me of where I once was, in the same boat and did he not reach down and rescue me? Yep, he did. So, may I remember, that no one is beyond rescue.

Why Bother?   

Why bother to keep on caring? God’s saving grace is available every day. My job is not to save anyone. My job is to keep on caring and to show God’s saving grace.