Kindness Matters

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.  Colossians 3:12

A few days ago, I was not having the best day. In fact, I was miserable. I'm not a person who gets depressed easily—mostly because God has blessed me so abundantly, not because I am not prone to depression. I always try to look for the positive in difficult circumstances, trust God with the hard things, and be thankful for everything I have and the things that are going right. Whenever I do this, I'm always reminded my blessings far outweigh my trials. I find it pretty difficult to remain depressed for long. It's usually easier to smile and think good thoughts than remain chained by the lies of the enemy that all is lost and things are never going to get better. I know my God is faithful, He loves me, and He works all things together for good.

But on that miserable day, the positive thoughts were not there. I couldn't smile. My heart was breaking too much over the hurts of others. I felt so helpless. It all seemed hopeless. And I was tired of the battle. I just wanted God to fix everything, and that didn't seem to be happening. After feeling discouraged for most of the day, I needed to go grocery shopping. Not my favorite chore, although sometimes it can be relaxing, so off I went with my heavy heart. At least it would give me something else to think about and remind me that while others were hurting, I could give my family nutritious and yummy food; Reminder Number One that kindness matters.

While I was pushing my shopping cart up and down the aisles, something unique happened to also remind me of this. One of the store managers, a woman with pretty red hair and a sweet disposition, was also going up and down the aisles with a scanner. She would point it at various price stickers, it would beep, and she would move on to the next. Several times when I was going up the aisle, she would be coming down the other way, and this continued until I was about halfway through my shopping trip.

My thoughts were still heavy, and I was only mildly aware of her presence. She was busy doing her work and never looked at me that I noticed, until she was scanning an item right near where I needed to grab something from the shelf. I waited for her to step away, and she had to cross my path to do so. But as she did, she turned to me and smiled, seeming to also realize we kept passing each other. I'm not sure if she had seen the downcast look on my face, but I'm thinking she must have because she said, "How are you today? Can I help you with anything?"

I'm used to the employees of the store being polite and friendly. It's one of the reasons I shop there, even if the prices are a bit high, but her tone held a unique quality, as if she knew I wasn't having the best day and wanted to help however she could. Her kindness touched me. Something deep inside that made me smile and believe everything was going to be okay. She had no idea what I was feeling and probably barely thought about me after that moment. But I will remember her kindness.

And that's when it hit me: kindness matters. Those I was grieving over had not been treated kindly, and yet kindness is such an easy thing to give if we just take time to be deliberate about it: a smile, a friendly word of encouragement, a compliment, a gentle answer, a simple act of mercy instead of pointing fingers and bringing shame. Grace instead of rudeness, patience instead of making others feel stupid or in the way, help instead of hurt.

You know what I'm talking about. You've been there. The moment when the kindness of someone else made all the difference. Perhaps your encounters are few and far between, and I'm sure the same is true for others. Just think of the difference your kindness can mean to someone: a family member, a friend, a coworker, a stranger. You may not always see the difference your kindness makes for someone, but they will feel it.  Like the store manager who has no idea she completely changed my perspective, you can do the same. Kindness is powerful. Kindness matters. Love matters.

The fruit of the Spirit is…kindness. (Gal. 5:22)

Whatever You Need

I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I.  Psalm 61:2


Do you ever feel overwhelmed? Google defines the word overwhelm as, "to bury or drown beneath a huge mass."  We can be overwhelmed by many different things, but I want you to think about what comes to mind today. What is burying or drowning you with its enormity, or what has the potential to do so?

When David wrote the words, I call as my heart grows faint, he was feeling overwhelmed by his enemies, and he prayed: Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.  He was buried and drowning and knew he needed to get to higher ground: To not be overwhelmed and to rise above his circumstances.

When Jesus told His disciples He was going to Jerusalem and would be killed there, some said they were ready to die with Him, but when the time came, they fled. On the night before His crucifixion, Peter said, "I will lay down my life for you."  But Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!" (John 13:37-38)  Jesus knew it would be too much for Peter, and it was. No matter how much Peter loved Jesus and desired to remain faithful and strong, he couldn't.  It was beyond him. It was overwhelming.

Perhaps your troubles are not as great as David or Peter's, but they probably feel like it. If your peace and strength is gone, it's gone—no matter what has taken it away. But David had the right idea with asking God for help. For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe. (v.3)  He knew whom he was calling on and asked God to lead him to a place of strength.

In John 14, Jesus tells His disciples that the Father will send the Holy Spirit after He is gone. "[The Spirit] will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you…Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."

The word troubled means "to agitate (by the movement of its parts to and fro)".  Sounds a lot like drowning in water, in need of a solid rock to climb onto, doesn't it? It also means "to disquiet, make restless, to strike one's spirit with fear and dread, to render anxious or distressed."  Sound familiar? Many things can trouble us in this world, in our churches, in our homes, and even within ourselves. We can get upset with others, but we also get upset when we fail, feel weak, or do things that bring trouble to others or our own lives.

Jesus calls His peace a gift. It's not something for us to conjure up in our own strength. It's something we must receive from Him. In Galatians 5:22, Paul calls peace a fruit of the Spirit, and Jesus says, "Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself, it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me…If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you." (John 15:4,7)

These words can apply to all the fruit Jesus wants to bear in us…love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, and self-control.  And we need Him to give us these gifts of grace. They are not of ourselves. But, like David, we need to desire what we need. We need to admit we are weak and void of these things without Jesus, without His Spirit indwelling our hearts. And we need to remember His words of love, mercy, and promise. But He says, "I will remind you! My peace I give you!"

If your faith is weak today, your understanding limited, your hope absent, your heart filled with fear, dread, or anxiety: Ask for what you need to rise above, and follow Him to the rock that is higher. To a place where you will not be tossed to and fro and overwhelmed by whatever has you drowning in despair, guilt, fear, anger, or faithlessness. He will give you whatever you ask for; He will give you whatever you need.



Word definition for "troubled" taken from www.blueletterbible.org

My Father Leads Me

Your laws are my treasure; they are my heart's delight. 
Psalm 119:111

Do you ever have trouble obeying God? Do you ever have those moments when you know what's right, what God has said, and what you know you should do; but you have a difficult time doing it? You rationalize, analyze the pros and cons of obedience, and weigh your chances of getting caught: caught by others in your dishonesty, misdeed, or bad habit—or caught by God.  You think, 'Will God really mind? Will He punish me? He'll forgive me, won't He? He forgave me for ______, so this isn't so bad, right?'

In Psalm 119, the psalmist writes 176 verses that are primarily about following God's instructions. He or she says, Your laws are my treasure; they are my heart's delight...joyful are people of integrity, who follow the instructions of the LORD...they do not compromise with evil, and they walk only in his paths.  Practical advice to following God's commands are also given.  I have hidden your word in my heart; that I might not sin against you...I will study your commands and reflect on your ways...Open my eyes to see the wonderful truths in your instructions...I think about them all day long.

Just about anything we do well in this life takes time, effort, determination, strength, and failure. Following God's commands are no exception. Mistakes are a great teacher: I used to wander off until you disciplined me...My suffering was good for me, for it taught me to pay attention to your decrees.  In John 12:48, Jesus says those who reject Him and His message will be judged by the truth He speaks. In other words, our sin and unbelief catches up with us because the truth never changes. We can try to change it. We can say, 'That's not true. I don't have to listen and live that way.' And I don't. God gives me free will to do as I please, but it doesn't mean my ways will prove to be right, because they're not! Only His ways are true and endure to the end.

But it's important to keep in mind that God is not our enemy. Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path...the wicked have set traps for me; but I will not turn from your commandments...You are my refuge and my shield; your word is my source of hope...don't leave me at the mercy of my enemies, for I have done what is just and right...My eyes strain to see your rescue, to see the truth of your promise fulfilled. (Psalm 119:105, 110,114,121, 123)

Our enemy is anything that leads us away from God and His instructions. They are like poison to our soul and the blessings God has in store for us. His plans are perfect. His ways are good. His instructions are life-giving. Jesus said, "I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark...I know [My Father's] commands lead to eternal life, so I say whatever the Father tells me to say."  (John 12:46,50)

I think it's noteworthy that Jesus says the Father's commands lead to eternal life, not that obeying them does. Yes, obedience to God's Word, belief, and trust leads us to the abundant life God has promised; but it's not my obedience that "saves" me. It's the commands for right living that lead to life. His ways are best for me. I'm not trusting in my own goodness and righteousness to obey, but in His goodness and righteousness to tell me the truth and keep His promises.

But when I fail to follow and end up in trouble, misery, the pit, off-track—His mercy remains. He will still lead me: first to His forgiveness, comfort, healing: and then to the next step of grace: however He leads me to make things right, do things better, or trust more fully. His laws are true, and so is His love.

I will never forget your commandments, for by them you give me life.  (Psalm 119:93)

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.