Have you ever talked to a lost person who had hit bottom and had no hope? Have you ever talked to a saved person who had endured many personal struggles, but over the years they had become beaten down?
Both need hope and truth. Down trodden seems to be commonplace these days. You can let the Holy Spirit use you to bring hope to the hopeless.
Jesus is the answer for both of these folks – the lost and the hurting. A lost person needs to know about Jesus, of course. A hurting person needs the truth or a reminder of the truth. In Jesus that truth is found – the truth about Jesus and the truth about themselves.
Since help is found in Jesus, we must be ready to share Jesus.
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.
1 Peter 3:15-16
We must also be ready to share scripture in order to be able to right the wrong headedness of the hurting. When someone has been beaten down, hope is found in scripture. Therefore, we need to be able to assist folks with the correct application of scripture.
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
You might be wondering if there is another something you can share with the hurting that will build a bridge to healing for them. Based on my past and the struggles I had, I would tell you no.
Hurt and abused people are susceptible to the abuse of others. The abuse sets them up for the cycle of abuse to continue. When self-esteem is torn down, walls go up. Defensiveness becomes a lifestyle that is followed by self-absorption. Fear drives the lie, “There is something wrong with me,” deep into the mind of the victim.
Scripture absolutely refutes this concept. We are sinners saved by grace through faith. That person sitting across from us is no better than we are. We are no better than them. None are righteous.
Standing on the Word of God over time is the only reliable road to healing. It is the only pure source of truth. When we become who God wants us to be – who God says we are – we begin to see the truth about us. The road to healing has begun.
LIFE APPLICATION
Today’s challenge is that before you deem someone to be unlovable, remember you are no better than they are. Without Jesus we are all lost. Be ready to give an answer for the hope that you have in Jesus.
Read and study your Bible because it will help you to be strong in your faith, and it will help you to share the truth and the love of God. If you read and study, recognizing error will be easier. God will bring verses of scripture to your mind when you need them.