Be an Open Book
However Be Wise as To When and Where You Open That Book
Blessed be the God of
all our comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able
to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we
ourselves are comforted by God. For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours
in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
Many years ago I suffered in silence in an abusive marriage I
would go to church with my husband and pretend everything was fine. I would wonder how did so many couples have
such wonderful marriages in the church and mine was miserable? Was it me, was I not doing enough to keep my
husband happy, what did I need to do to make things better? I suffered in silence because in our small
Bible study group no one ever shared openly about personal things only lots of
talk about scripture. I was attending
two different churches during this time, the one where my husband wanted to go
and the one I would attend a Thursday morning ladies Bible study. It was in the Thursday morning bible study I
learned I was not alone in my struggles.
I was a young mom of two boys with a third child on the way, barely able
to endure each day. One day during my
Thursday morning bible study a lady named Missy, shared her story about the struggles
she had had in her own marriage. After we were done for the day I saw Missy in the
bathroom and thanked her for being so open and willing to share about her
struggles. That day was a turning point
for me in my spiritual journey. I
thanked God for using Missy to help me to see the light at the end of the
tunnel and vowed to God that if by sharing my story if I was able to help just one
person by sharing what I have been through in life and the comfort I
experienced from God, the healing the growth, the good the bad and the
ugly. I would do it without
hesitation.
I want to encourage everyone who happens to read this to not be
afraid of sharing your story, shout it form the mountain tops or the hills, the
ocean and flat land. There is someone
that needs to hear it and God will let you know when that time is. He will give you the discernment and wisdom
to know when it’s time to be bold and share and when you need to simply be a friend.
In this world when so many are hurting and so many are quick to
pass judgment and be critical and have a “they know best attitude”, there are
so many that have chosen to keep their pain to themselves it is up to us a
Christians to be bold and meet everyone where they are; this is what Jesus did.
Who knows we might be just the person that God uses to change someone
to decide not to cause harm to themselves or others…..Something to think about……
