Weary Souls

Different relationships will also have different impacts. When you already know and love someone, your dismissal of a person risking painful transparency can be hugely damaging. If the person is a stranger, there is not as large of a heart cry linked to you personally. The most beautiful thing a friend or family member can do in times of need is to become a support system. A text or call, an encouraging letter, a coffee date, a hug or an intentional“how are you? speak volumes of Christlike love. It's often all that's needed to lift a weary soul but unfortunately those simple acts of kindness are frequently neglected. An even more intentional approach is to ask the person how they would feel best served by the options you are willing to extend. Suffering people don't always know how to communicate their needs. They may already feel like a burden and do not want to risk inconveniencing you. They may receive enormous relief from being offered to be brought a meal or to watch their kids for an hour. An encouraging text, though kind, may not help to alleviate burdens. The worst thing you can do is to disengage with a genuinely weary soul. What greater test of friendship is there than sticking it out when things aren't ideal! Essentially, to become more Christlike (which ought to be every Christian's mission), one shouldn't focus on a single aspect or an isolated group of Jesus's character traits and choose to camp out there. Jesus also didn't become all things for all people. He drew lines, He kept and clarified the original designs for humanity stated in God's law, and He didn't pressure those who weren't ready to take up their cross. His character modeled a myriad of wisdom. He was capable of being both gentle and direct. He was loving to His core while sharing hard truths that some identified as hatred. He didn't retaliate. He didn't defend. He didn't demand. He loved in the way that the God of Love defines true love to be. His love transcends our complete understanding but we, miraculously, are empowered by Christ to imitate this same kind of love. As image bearers, we should closely resemble the God that we serve and show Him respect in everything we do and in the way that we speak. "He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth." When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.“He himself bore our sins" in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness;“by his wounds you have been healed.”For“you were like sheep going astray," but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. 1 Peter 2:22-25 (NIV)