“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33, ESV)
Do you know anyone struggling through life?
I know many of them.
As a person who is contact with a diverse amount of people, my days are usually filled to the brim with struggling people. People experiencing tribulations.
Many of these people are women. Women who are dying inside to find just the right person they can trust. Desperate for the person they can feel safe enough to “throw up” a load of emotion on.
Yes, I said it…. Throw up!
We have all been there haven’t we?
Either we were the ones throwing up on another, or we became the one who listened as someone else divulged their life right into our laps.
It goes kinda like this…..
They walk up or call us unexpectedly. They begin talking to us themselves or they wait for you to ask that open-ended question, “How are you?”
And then here it comes. They begin…..
As they begin, they seem not to breathe as they speak uncontrollably. Going from one thought to the other. With no sequence of events whatsoever.
They have had all these emotions and thoughts going on in their hearts and minds for so long. Never given a chance to voice it in any possible way, to anyone, before this point. So it comes from their sweet mouths in sporadic spurts…. without taking a breath in or out it seems. Or even letting you get one small word said…. during any short moment of the one-sided conversation.
Depending on how long they have held it in, tears may begin to form. Or tears may just burst forth that pour down like Niagara Falls. Accompanied with a prolonged and loud-wailing cry of pain, grief, or anger that springs forth as their vocals change pitches…. and in dancing step with their roller coaster ride of emotion.
These are the ones dying inside with…. depression, hurt, anxiety, disappointment, loneliness, and fear.
I know this so well because I have been there. Many times. Just sobbing uncontrollably to another.
And at these times, I was a Christian too! Many of these individuals are Christians also.
Yes…. Christians!
Jesus says….
“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
Jesus is talking to His disciples here. They were His followers.
Are you a follower of Jesus Christ, too?
If you are my friend, I want to encourage you to be there for these individuals that are desperate for a person to “throw up” an overload of emotion on.
Have a cup of coffee or share a dessert….. and then just listen to them divulge and release what’s inside.
Why should we all do this for each other?
Because Jesus says Himself that we will have tribulation in this world. And being a Christian doesn’t free us from tribulation. But, Jesus also wants us to have peace even in the midst of our tribulation.
How do we “each” find this peace?
We talk to Jesus. We talk to fellow Christians.
The truth is….
We are all desperate for each other deep inside. We need to be the person others can trust enough to talk with. Cry with. Share with. The most deepest parts of ourselves.
Let’s choose today to be there for at least one person this week. A person that needs a friend to “throw up” on in the midst of their tribulation.
We all know soon enough the time will come when it is our turn again! 🙂
God bless you! Love you all!!
