"Personal Thoughts"

We get down once it a while. Well, let me speak for myself. I get down once in a while. People my not know it or my family may not know it but I do. But my down-trodden time isn't over life or life's obstacles as such. It's the lack of response that is seen among God's people. You teach and try to encourage people in their faith, to let the Lord lead and not get caught up in all the thinking and business of the world around only to see people do that very thing. What's even more troubling at times to my heart is young couples with small children. You try to show them and teach them while they continue their same daily paths, unaware of how they are training their children or their involvements in life and they don't want to know. One day it is going to hit: that sickness or accident and it devastates them. They go to pieces many times with little faith not thinking it would ever happen to them. It shatters their lives.

Sometimes it seems all my preaching/teaching goes for very little. Then I have to wake up and realize this is not about me! It's about doing what God wants done and the return and purpose is all His, not mine. I think of Isaiah when he offered himself to go and preach to God's people and then asks God how long is he going to have to do this? God responds with a resounding the people aren't going to listen, they are insensitive in their heart so there are going to be difficulties coming upon them (Isa. 6). I don't know what I would do if I was told ahead of time that all my teaching/preaching would be in vain and there would be little to no response to the will and call of the Lord.

I guess today is one of my reflecting days. I'm not down, just reflecting and wondering how much good is really being done. Certain ones I think about and see their attitudes and what they are involved in hurt my heart because there is nothing I can do for them. They are going to have to have something happen to try to get their attention before it is too late. For me, I need to just keep preaching and teaching and let the Lord figure out all the other things...but sometimes it's mighty lonely!