God’s Got This

I was on hold for twenty minutes with the insurance company and I was thinking to myself, “Why does this have to be so difficult?”  My father was dying and I was trying to get all his affairs in order for my mom so it was one less thing for her to worry about.  I knew what loomed ahead.  I had walked this path after the death of my husband.   I remember the agony of having countless discussions with social security, utility companies, insurance companies, sending copies of death certificates, and answering the same questions over and over.  I did not want my mother to agonize through the bureaucracy of death because she had a much bigger journey to face.  All I wanted was to help my mom in her time of need.

We all have a time of need.

Whether it is physical, emotional, or spiritual there are times when we can’t do it alone.  In those times, I take great comfort in the Beatitudes in Matthew 5.  This teaching reassures me God is with us during our different seasons of life.  When I feel despair, anguish, and loneliness, He is there summoning the right resources for assistance.  I love how the needs are listed in the Beatitudes with the first identifying those who are vulnerable:

THOSE WHO ARE DEFENSELESS-Matthew 5:3-5

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are those who mourn for they will be comforted.  Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.”

 I am so thankful God is there with me during the fragile times in my life.  When I have self-doubt, grief, or my will is spent, He continues to bless me, lift me up, and bring the necessary support to my aching voids.

The next group of scriptures describes those seeking and testifying for God through their works.  When I bless others by lifting them up during their time of need, God indeed blesses me.  I am thankful for those who have lifted me up in the past and see how God blessed them for the love and support for a sista in need.

THOSE WHO SEEK AND TESTIFY FOR GOD-Matthew 5:6-9

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.  Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called Sons of God.”

The last part of the Beatitudes describes those who will publicly stand for Christ.  In today’s world, this is a HUGE need.  As Christians, we need to follow in the disciples’ footsteps and testify to the world about the truth of Jesus.  We strap on the armor of God and are sent out to fight with His word against the hate, evil, and sin of this world.

THOSE WHO WILL PUBLICLY STAND FOR CHRIST-Matthew 5:10-12

“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.  Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

I was able to help my mom after my dad passed with all the insurance claims and administrative paperwork.  She was weakened by all the months of taking care of my dad, grief, and physical exhaustion.  I was glad my assistance could take some of the burdens off of her plate.   It has been almost two years since dad has passed and mom has made it through the vulnerable stages of grief and now assists and shares her faith with others who are hurting.  We both have journeyed through the vulnerable parts of life and now live to testify and stand up for Christ in our actions and words.   I find the Beatitudes reassuring, comforting, and a reminder as we live through the messiness of life-God’s got this.