Run after them
I had a peculiar incident happen this past week.
While it was traumatic for me, it was 10 times more traumatic for my friend who was directly involved. I was somewhat of a bystander— a witness to a cruel act of domestic violence, an incident I can only describe as evil.
I was asked by a trusted source about the details of the incident and their response shocked me: “You always run into the burning building.”
For me, this is normal. A friend is in trouble? You run in. A friend is in crisis? You run in. No food in their pantry? You run in. Debilitating illness? You run in.
Is this not how it’s supposed to go?
Especially as believers?
What seems innate to me what foreign enough to this trusted source that they felt the need to comment on it. In their defense, did not criticize. Yet there was something peculiar to me about the fact that the instinct to “run in” isn’t something that’s default for most.
But as believers, I see the scripture telling us time and again that this is simply what we must do. This is what separates us from non-believers.
I’ll take a moment and attempt to elaborate.
When I realized the grave depths of the evil my friend was facing, something in my spirit rose up and I was compelled to “run in.” It was late. I was tired. I didn’t have all of the details but I knew enough to know she couldn’t face this danger alone.
The extent of this “run-in” moment was much more than a moment. The battle lasted a full 24 hours dealing with hospitals, law enforcement, legal assistance, you name it. And I was EXHAUSTED when we came to a point where I knew I could relent and let her walk the next steps on her own.
But it was a GOOD exhausted, a job well done exhausted, a good hard work-out exhausted (though I hate working out). I knew in my spirit I did what I was called to do.
I answered the call.
This “good exhaustion” reminds me of Proverbs 11:25:
He who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.
Many times we deny the call to “run in” because we fear we will miss our opportunity to be refreshed. We’ll miss our nap. We’ll miss our routine. We’ll miss our time with family. (All good and necessary things.)
But how many times do we miss those things for countless lesser reasons?
I’ll take the bullet and be the first to admit: I will stay up late knowing I need to be in bed to finish binge watching a show or to finish 1 chapter that becomes 5 chapters. I make time for time with girlfriends or a self-care routine and skip out on making family dinner.
Why then do we suddenly becomes the person who always gets it “right” when someone inconveniently needs our help?
The scripture puts its PLAINLY:
When you know it’s the Sprit urging you to render assistance, answer “YES, I can help!” and see them all the way through:
Matthew 5:41-42
41 If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
Luke 10:33-35
33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii[c] and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
9 Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their labor:
10 If either of them falls down,
one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
and has no one to help them up.
11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
But how can one keep warm alone?
12 Though one may be overpowered,
two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
1 John 3:17-18
17 If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? 18 Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.
James 1:27
27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
**This message must be read with a HEALTHY understanding of BOUNDARIES and a SPIRIT-LED lifestyle.