Why is it that I can speak so easily about the grace and love shown to me by the Lord, but when it comes to me showing another prisoner of sin that same grace, that same compassion, I seem to find a reason to avoid giving it? A very close friend of mine humbled themselves enough to share a dark struggle with me. At any other time I believe I would be able to show them grace and compassion mainly because it probably didn't affect me. Well, what happens when that dark struggle does affect me? Ahh...a dilemna facing my plan for an easy Christian life. Do I forget the pain Jesus went through so that we could be shown grace each and every day? I must forget because for some reason, I think showing grace and compassion should be easy.

I'm torn in this struggle between my desire to help, to fix, to make it all right and to trust and use the faith Jesus has given me to let Him fix, let Him help, and to let Him heal my friend. He is showing me that my hand is not His righteous right hand; my hand cannot save anyone (
Job 40:14). So what do I do? Every part of my flesh wants to scream out, "Just stop! You're not trying hard enough!" And sadly enough, at times my flesh prevails. I ask those questions to the person who trusted me enough to confide in me. Where is the compassion Jesus has placed inside of me? See, I believe that compassion is in me and I could give you a bunch of reasons, but one will suffice: Galatians 2:20 tells me that Christ lives in me (and with that, His compassion as well).

But the problem still occurs. Where is His compassion in me? Why do I struggle to show, someone I love, compassion? I don't have all the answers but one answer in particular sticks out pretty clearly:
I'm self-centered. I struggle to show that person compassion because they are hurting
me. But oh how the grace of God prevails. He promises that His grace is sufficient (
II Corinthians 12:9) as well as the promise that I can do all things through Him who gives me strength (
Phillipans 4:13). That leads me to this conclusion: I am not God (big news!), and I am nobody's master. With those realizations, my relationship to other believers and non-believers alike is not one of judgment and condemnation (especially when their actions may hurt me), but to remember the grace given me, remember that in my Lord's eyes no sin is bigger or smaller than another, and honestly, the most important thing to remember is that I am Christ's representative.  That means, in this case, He has given me the unique opportunity to be the compassion of Christ, clothed in flesh.

Father, I beg for You to wash away my judgments and condmening thoughts. I pray that you will fill my heart with Your compassion so I will be able to see my fellow brothers and sisters through Your eyes. I just want to lift up those who confide in me rather than break them down even more. Thank you for the help I know will come.