First Church of God

How many times have I had a homeless person ask for help, and my first thought is… “Is this a scam or a real story?” How often do people walk into our church to explain their heart wrenching situation, and my first thought is to doubt their genuineness or wonder how I am going to get things done if I give them time?

Today another down and out person walks into our church, but this guy asks for me by name. Why? Because he is someone I know and care about deeply. For a few years now we’ve watched him slip down a slope toward self destruction. All of us helpless to do anything, because unless a person wants help and is ready to receive help, there is nothing you can do.

But something is different today. He’s ready…

So we drive all the way to Grand Rapids, where we can get help, so I am told. We spend the afternoon visiting treatment centers. We learn about detox and counseling and everything it takes to get ones life on track. We meet some wonderful people who do great things to set people free, but not for free.  My friend will need over $6,000 to get the help he needs. He doesn’t have 2 cents in his pocket.

That’s when the frustration hits. The very thing we had been praying for had come to be… he hit bottom and was ready to change, ready to get into a program, ready to really do whatever it takes to get his screwed up life unscrewed. He’s ready, but no one is ready to take him in and help him. I’m told there are ways to pay for treatment programs, but it will take a long time to fill out all the papers and take all the steps necessary, and by then where is he going to be?

I’m watching him sleep. They gave him something, so now he is peacefully resting in the ER room. But in a few hours they will release him. What the heck is he going to do?  Watching his still face, I realize how much I care. Yet I'm amazed at my insensitivity about this issue for strangers. How many others find themselves in this same situation? How many want to change, to get out of this evil grip? And in the moment when they need help and are ready to receive help, no help is there for them? I’ve never even given it a thought before today.  How can I be on this great pursuit for intimacy with God, and be so blind to the needs of those who are despised and rejected?

God, he needs help NOW.  Not a week from now or a month from now.  He needs help now. He needs a miracle.

Go talk to the ministry down town one more time, the first one you saw earlier today.

Is that God guiding me? I don’t know, but I go. And sure enough, the miracle we hoped for happens! They decide to take him in. This ministry will take him for a whole year, and work with him, and it will cost him nothing. What a miraculous answer to prayer!

Father, thank you for teaching me today. You’ve shown me a part of my heart that is hard and needs to be softened. Give me true compassion for people in need. Thank you also for answering prayer in a huge way!  And Lord, give my friend the strength to make it through this next week. It will be so hard. But he has people to help him now.