“Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing. But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man.” John 2:23-25
Jesus knew better
than to trust in man because he knew what their hearts were like. We don’t, and
some or most of us tend towards trust. We go to friends and family members for
comfort and understanding, and many times we are treated coldly, told of our
faults and misunderstood. Sometimes our search for comfort cuts deeper than the
scars we already have, leaving us devastated.
We must not let this treatment
lead us into despair. We must realize how people are wired. They are not wired
to be our therapist. They are not strong enough for us to lean on. They are not
wise like Solomon. They are just human beings encumbered by their past, their
hang-ups and prejudices.
Lately, I’ve felt
really sad and discouraged, mainly because of my fibromyalgia. I’ve been quite
sick and weak and I am tired of feeling sick and weak. I’ve been ill for almost
30 years. I’m tired of my mental illness, which I’ve had for the same amount of
time. I’m tired of my loneliness, and feelings of inadequacy.
There are other
problems I have and I sometimes feel a great need for comfort from someone. But
the ones I love so much are going through hard times too, and as I have learned
about marriage these years, I cannot expect from people what I feel I need so
desperately. I told the Lord, “I know I can only receive true comfort and
strength from you. You always come through for me, every time. Help me to stop
trying to find this great comfort anywhere else but in your arms.”
Expectations of
others is a poison. It can turn your heart from them and they wouldn’t even
know why. They are not here to fulfill my needs. They are not here to read my
mind and try to make me feel good. My family has had a lot of pain and it’s
hard to help each other when we are all so damaged. We are also a happy family.
We laugh all the time, but there is in all of us an undercurrent of darkness or
a sort of flatness since we lost my two grandsons. It is described in the Bible
as having lost the light in one’s eyes.
When Job lost all ten
of his children, three of his friends came to console him, but they only made
him feel worse. They told him God would not let something like this happen to a
man who was a believer. They told him he must have sinned.
Job said, “I have
heard many things like these; miserable comforters are you all.
Is there no end to your long-winded
speeches?
What
provokes you to continue testifying?
I could also speak like you
if
you were in my place;
I
could heap up words against you
But I would encourage you with my mouth,
and
the consolation of my lips would bring relief.” Job 16:1-5
When David was in trouble with King
Saul, and his friends turned against him, he wrote,
“For it is not an
enemy who insults me;
that
I could endure.
It
is not a foe who rises against me;
But
it is you, a man like myself,
my
companion and close friend.
We
shared sweet fellowship together;
we
walked with the crowd into the house of God.”
Psalm 55:12-14
These things are very painful and as
believers in God we have to deal with these experiences with the love of Jesus.
He loved his disciples even when they continually misunderstood him and then
deserted him. He didn’t give up on them. He did rebuke them but also forgave
them and wanted them to keep following him. He is our perfect example. He will
take us by our right hand and lead us forward on the everlasting path to himself.
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is
the kingdom of heaven. Blessed
are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” Matthew 5:3,4
“He comforts us in
all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, then we
will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.” 2 Corinthians 1:4
“But God, who
comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, and not only
by his coming but also by the comfort with which he was comforted by you, as he
told us of your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced
still more.” 2 Corinthians 7:6,7
“Though You have shown
me many troubles and misfortunes,
You
will revive me once again.
Even
from the depths of the earth
and
comfort me once again.” Psalm 71:20,21
