I knew a guy once who broke his back—twice. The second time it took and, short of the Lord’s intervention, he will be in a wheelchair for the rest of his life. In spite of this, he was probably one of the most positive people I have ever met. He had to deal with constant general pain, the loss of a very active lifestyle, and living in a world that was no longer built for him. Through it all he kept a smile on his face and tried to take life one day at a time.
For him, the obstacle was obvious, he was in a wheelchair. For other people, the struggles they are dealing with can be hidden, but through it all they put on a brave face. I’m sure you know the struggles that you fight through every day, and how some days it feels like the struggle wins. But even when we feel like we’ve lost, God encourages us to keep going.
The prophet Zephaniah reminds us of this promise in Zephaniah 3:16-17
On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem:
“Fear not, O Zion;
let not your hands grow weak.
The Lord your God is in your midst,
a mighty one who will save;
he will rejoice over you with gladness;
he will quiet you by his love;
he will exult over you with loud singing.
For most of us, our struggles are hidden beneath a few layers of self-protection and a desire to follow social norms. If we are honest, we know that they exist. And knowing they exist for us; means we can safely assume that they exist for others. A little compassion goes a long way. It costs you nothing to be kind, but it could change someone else’s whole day.
There are a lot of people walking around with brave faces these days. Some much braver than others. Let’s go out there and love people well. Everyone needs compassion, everyone needs forgiveness, let’s show them the kindness of the Savior. God is mighty to save.