When We're Overwhelmed

We know the world is overwhelmed.  We know it's full of folk who feel they're at the end of their rope.  They've run out of psychic strength.  They're weary.  They feel up against immovable road blocks.

And that's not even counting the people who've had wildfires sweep up the valley or down the hills, burning everything in their path - including homes, cars, possessions - even life.

We're in a time of destructive forces in nature, as well as the destructive forces of people deranged, who are suddenly bent on killing people - almost any people, whether faithful Jewish people at their synagogue, or college young people at a bar.  It is madness storming out of the night to wreak havoc where they can.  Or the sea rising up to send tidal waves over towns and people, or earthquakes shaking mountains and hills, or the wanton fires burning up home and possessions, leaving nothing.

But, for many, many others it's just life rising up and taking away loved ones, or taking away jobs, or money, or those relationships that sustain us in life.

I've had dear ones in my life who go through that awful sense of abandonment, of forsakenness, of despair.  And, it's made me think of what our help is, in those times - indeed, in all times.

Jesus says, "Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the world."  He promises, over and over again, to come to us, to be with us, to show us the way out of those cases that seem like the very end of life.

And, next to Him - and indeed, through Him - there is FAMILY.  What a gift to have a family.  To have parents, siblings, even our own children who can ride to the rescue, bringing food, the helping hand of funds to cover costs that have overwhelmed us.  There's no system quite like it in all the world, to help us.  And, there's church, the awesome help of the beloved community.

Someone to call.  Someone who'll listen.  Someone who cares - someone motivated by family - love, or faith concerns - which is the love of Jesus.  What a difference those great lives can make in our lives, at all times, and especially the down times.