FEELING HELPLESS
I watched a news clip where this reporter was covering the disaster and she asked a woman a question. The woman was in pain and shock. She had her children with her and she lashed out in anger at the reporter. She kept saying something in the nature of, “Why are you sticking that microphone in my face? Can’t you see that I’ve lost everything? My children are hungry and you are sticking a microphone in my face, why?” Frustration, anger, helplessness. All of those things were evident in her outburst.
We have all been there. I have been in both of these ladies shoes and I am sure you have too. I have witnessed someone in pain and I have been that someone in pain. How can you adequately express how bad you feel when a friend has lost her house in a fire? What words can comfort someone who has just found out that they have cancer? When everything that someone has worked for their entire life is flooded and they feel helpless, what can you do?
Prayer. I think that sometimes people say that they are praying and that we have become almost immune to hearing that. I see all the time that someone puts up a post of loss or hurt and then you will see lots and lots of people commenting, “praying.” That is wonderful but do you really take time to pray or just to type the message. I have tried to adopt the habit of stopping what I am doing and say a small prayer right then because if I don’t then I might get busy and forget.
Action. I think we should always say a prayer for those in need but there are times when we should go a step further. It is not always possible but when we have the opportunity then we should follow our prayer by an action. When someone has lost their house then we can try to provide clothing or something else that they might need. If we know someone who has lost someone close to them then maybe we could provide a meal for them. If someone is going through a sickness then maybe we can offer to help clean their house or do errands. There are so many tiny little things we can do to show that we care. In the case of the hurricane victims, my action is coming in the form of a donation. I don’t know anyone personally but I can still try to help in a small way.
Comfort. There are many times when there is nothing you can say or do that will help. In those time, a hug or just being there can help. In times of hurt maybe a person needs to know that someone cares, that they have a shoulder to lean on. When we have lost something or someone a natural response is fear and anger. Hold your friend, listen to your friend, empathize with your friend, and say a prayer with your friend. Remind them that the Lord is with them and has not forsaken them.
Psalm 50:15 And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.
James 5:13 Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.
I often feel so inadequate and I feel that saying, “I am so sorry for your loss” is not enough. In those times we need to remember to pray and to remember that the Lord has a plan. And while we can not even begin to imagine how heartbreak and loss can be a part of His plan, we are to trust in Him and in His ways.
Have A Blessed Sunday!
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Thank you Tania for your beautiful words !
Dear Miss Tania,
Thank you for your beautiful post. It IS devastating to see SO much suffering. We do feel helpless, but HOPE and FAITH remain. God’s will be done.
Surely goodness and kindness will follow you all the days of your life as your words and actions are said and done with prayerful meaning. Blessings.
Beautifully said Tania. I do what you do. When someone ask for prayers I stop right there and pray for them. Thank you for sharing your thoughts today. I’m from Louisiana, we are fine. My daughter lives in Houston and praise God they were fine. So many people aren’t. We have a group from our area the Cajun Navy that helped with the rescues. We lived through Hurricane Rita, the forgotten storm after Katrina. We in the Southwest corner of the state rebuilt our community on our own. We had to sit and watch the news daily about Katrina when nothing but maybe 2 days coverage of Rita, but you know God is good because we did it as a community in our part of the state. We felt left out, but God is good and we are better than ever. We pay it forward. Love to all.
Beautifully said ❤️
Thanks so much!
Wow Tania that was great ! Idk you but that is what I have been thinking all week. I also took this opportunity to teach my daughter (14) that when you give to the least of these you give to God. I hope that she will remember these lessons when she is older.
Have a wonderful sunday
Nicki, it is a wonderful opportunity to teach your daughter about giving as well as receiving. You never know when you will be on the receiving end. I am sure this is a lesson she will remember.
I was in the 2010 flood in Tennessee and I know how these people are feeling. I was without a home for 3 months but I did not have children to take care of. At first you are in shock that such a thing could happen to you, then you become numb because you realize you don’t have flood insurance and then for a moment you shut down and cry. But then if you know God you know he will bring you through and work out all the details that you cannot work out for yourself and guess what he was totally faithful!! He gave me the “peace that surpasses all understanding” those 3 months and people were so kind and so willing to help. The best comes out in people when a diaster strikes. One of the most comforting things about that time was that all my friends in my neighborhood were going through the same thing and we comforted each other through it all. We never felt alone! This too will pass as it did for me and lessons will be learned about material things only being temporary. God is still on his throne and you learn that during this time. I have been praying that God will save many lives through this tragedy and I HAVE NO DOUBT HE WILL! Never stop praying.
June, thank you for sharing what you went through. It is wonderful to let those who are in the midst of loss know that there is a light at the end of the tunnel and that there is hope right around the bend. I had been thinking about writing about “love thy neighbor as thy self” with the intent of showing all of the goodness that comes from strangers in times of trouble. Our nation has its problems but as a whole, we rise to help when times get tough.
Amen! Hope your enjoying fair winds and clear skies. I will be at the beach in 3 weeks baring any hurricanes!!! Enjoy your blog.
Love your Sunday messages thanks
Tania
Thank you for this post today. I live in a suburb of Houston, and we were spared flooding and damage, but there is so much devastation all around us. We all need to continue to pray for those affected and the thousands of people aiding those affected –volunteers, police, fire, EMTs, nurses, doctors and many more. Thank you for reminding people what we can do.
I am happy that you were spared, Debbie. I know it has still been a horrible experience for you and your family.
Amen! our words feel so small after the wrath of something so devastatingly huge! But our prayer are never small, God hears even the smallest most futile attempts to talk to him! We can pray anywhere, we do not have to wait for bedtime, or at church or be able to kneel. we can pray in the car or standing in the checkout line or all during the day as we work! Prayer is simply talking to God. When I tell someone I will pray for them, I stop right then and do it. It doesn’t have to be fancy for God to hear me, he is always ready to listen. What better gift to give another than a prayer for them.
Amy, I find myself saying prayers anywhere and everywhere even if it is only a sentence or two. I thank the Lord as soon as my eyes fly open and I try to have Him be on my mind as I close my eyes.