Today I am joining Kate Motaung for Five Minute Friday. One word prompt. Five minutes. No editing. Lots of women. We all write on the same word.
I was saddened this week to hear of the passing of Robin Williams. I thought of how many nights he made me laugh as I watched Mork & Mindy. He made us all laugh for years.
And then I remembered another life from years ago …..
She came to Bible Study almost every week without fail. She often invited several of us to her home for lunch. Lunch was always an amazing experience as you never knew who she would also invite.
She viewed lunch as a means to have others to her home to tell them about Jesus. So she would invite women she knew from around the neighborhood. Sometimes she would invite the moms of her sons’ friends. And she would ask a few believers.
She was a small Asian woman and lunch would also be a cooking lesson …. Chinese dumplings, fried rice, wonton soup.
No one ever refused to come as she was known for great food and her cooking lessons. She knew they would come and she knew they would hear as she would tell them of Jesus.
That is why it was a shock when she took her own life.
This gentle and quiet woman who loved her family and her Jesus. This one who seized every opportunity to tell others about Jesus.
I have often wondered how we all couldn’t see the signs which were not telling the full story of the turmoil eating away at her. For then we would have been able to tell her …
Yes, there is hope in Jesus.
And yes, He truly does work in and through medication.
May we be faithful to tell those about Jesus. May we tell them of His love, peace and joy. And may we faithfully tell them, He brings hope.
But may we also tell them, He has given knowledge and wisdom, opening the field of medicine to remedy things beyond our control.
May we tell them, He can bring healing miraculously. He is able.
And may we tell them, He also does some of His finest healing in and through prescriptions because He deeply loves them.
Tell them.
But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tell them? (Romans 10:14, NLT)
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Today I am joining … Five Minute Friday, Everyday Jesus, Faith Filled Fri., Friendship Fri., Essential Fri., Fellowship Fri., Fulfilled Fri. .
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Oh, this is sad… but you have written hope into the story. Hope and healing. I pray that hope and healing on the countless others in pain, sadness, loss, and despair. I pray for them to know the many faces and hands and hearts of Jesus. Thank you for this.
May we keep holding out words of His hope, His peace, His love. It is the only answer.
Love this. Every word of it.
Thank you for stopping here, Eileen! Blessings!
Oh that we could tell everyone the story of hope and healing found in Jesus and that they would believe it. Thanks for sharing about your friend and for encouraging us all to tell God’s story more often.
Holly, may we keep writing. Keep sharing His story. It truly is the story with the very best ending!
So sad. It saddens my heart to hear of people so burdened that they fear there is no more hope. God is still good. We can still have victory in Him. Depression is not only a life taker, but also a home wrecker. ~ A survivor.
Kaylene, the effects of depression are so far reaching. God is still good even in the midst. May we keep pointing others to Him so they find hope. Grateful you are a survivor!
Oh yes, often you never know the inner despair someone may be feeling. That’s why it’s worth the risk to ask and to to tell about the real stuff we’re feeling inside.
May we ask God to open our eyes to see others through His eyes. May He keep giving us words of hope & His love to serve up to others. Blessings!
That is so heartbreaking, Joanne! I agree that depression can be a chemical imbalance that medication can help with. So sad when Christians always think that we are not supposed to be depressed and do not realize that it can be medical. Thank you for sharing the story. There is HOPE in Jesus Christ, the Healer, the Waymaker!
Nannette, depression is sad for both victims and their families. May we keep pointing others to Him, the source of all hope. Grateful for you!
Oh Joanne… That is heartbreaking and encouraging at the same time. Yes, we must tell all about Jesus and pray that those who need help seek it. Thank you for sharing this powerful truth over at #EverydayJesus. Much love to you, sister.
Thanks, Sharita! I’m always encouraged by joining you each week!
Thank you, Jo, It is a message that needs to be told.
It truly is, Mare. Much love to you!
This is sad. It makes us realize how many people around us are suffering- who seem ok on the outside but aren’t really. With each despairing suicide that we hear about, I pray that someone who is contemplating it will hear the messages of HOPE loudest of all.
I so agree! May HOPE be the loudest message of all!
Thank you. This is wonderful and sad at the same time.I was depressed and medicated several years ago. Since then I’ve been able to go off my meds, but not everyone can. We can never know the darkness that hides inside people. To turn this into a story of hope, the hope that we have in Jesus is refreshing. Thanks for linking up at Fulfilled Fridays last week. Hope to see you again tomorrow! ~Crystal
I am so glad you have been able to come off of medication. May we continue to come alongside of others & offer hope in & through Christ!