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Comforted to comfort others

SETTING THE PACE / Living life with an eternal perspective

As a pastor, I get the privilege of walking with people through many different kinds of problems. This, of course, is not always easy, but allows me the opportunity to minister to and love on people. I can only hope to show them the same ministry and love God has shown me. I hate that people have problems and I long for people to be free from this sinful world, but until that day comes, we must lean on the Lord and each other to endure.

In a world full of stress, heartache, pain, difficulty, etc., what are some things we can do to make it through this life? How can we endure faithfully until the end? I do not have all the answers, but I have learned a few things over the years, and here are some principles that have truly helped me.

First, God wants you to give your pain, whatever it is, to Him. This is so important. God is not looking for you to show Him how strong you are. In fact, with God it is the opposite. The Bible says, “In our weakness, He is strong.” We are to come to God humbly, confess our dependence on Him, lay our burdens at His feet, and walk in His strength. This is the first and most important part of dealing with any kind of difficulty ›. God thrives on showing His power as we depend on Him. Remember, God lifts those up who bow down!

Second, find a few others that you trust deeply to help you shoulder your difficulty. I learned this the hard way. Not everyone can handle their own problems, much less, helping someone else with theirs. It is critical to find a few trusted friends that you can bear your soul to: people who will love you without always trying to fix you, or people who will know when to listen and know when to speak. Having a close-knit group like this in your life is greater than gold.

Third, find a good outlet when you are hurting. After our son passed away, I just kind of drifted into a light depression. I was not really motivated to do anything. I did the things I had to do, but my whole heart was not in them. I also stopped taking care of my physical body. One day, by the grace of God, I had had enough, so I just started to run. Little did I know the positive effect that it would have on my life. Running soon became a great outlet for me. When I run, sometimes I pray, think, laugh, cry, listen to music, or just enjoy the quiet. It has become a powerful tool God has used to help with my healing. Running may not work for you, but you need to find something. Maybe it is writing, painting, hiking, traveling, etc. Find a good outlet and you will be surprised how much that helps.

Finally, allow God to use your pain to minister to others in their pain. This is a vital part of your healing. The Bible says that “we suffer so that we can comfort others with comfort we ourselves have experienced.” It is important to use the things God teaches you to help others. You may not be ready to do that right now, but at some point you will be. Trust me, there is great joy and comfort when you get to see God use you to help others. Even as I write this, I smile thinking of someone this article might help.

There are many other things I have learned, but these are a few important principles I carry with me each day. Have a great day and I will see you next week!  

Jeremy Freeman

www.pastorjfreeman.com

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The Newcastle Pacer

217 S. Main, Suite C

Newcastle, Oklahoma 73065

405-387-5277