Just Take the Next Step
This past week I attended a pastoral prayer group in Anaheim. It was at a church I’ve been to before with a pastor I’ve gotten to know well. As I walked up the pastor was outside, which was out of the ordinary. He greeted me and shared with me that he needed to address a situation on campus. He apologized but said it was urgent so I replied, no problem I’ll go with you.
As we walked, he explained that they have a homeless man and woman that attend their church and they let them park their car in the back of their parking lot at night but they aren’t allowed to be there during the pre-school hours as security is heightened for the children. Pre school had started and he was sleeping on the ground with all his belongings out on and around the car. We walked up and the other pastor addressed him and the homeless guy was personable but the pastor had to remind him that he couldn’t be on the property during school hours. He received that well enough and understood but as I met him for the first time he began telling me his story about how his family had cut him out of the inheritance, a story the other pastor has heard him share many times. As I listened to him share, I was asking God how I should respond and God showed me. After he finished I expressed sadness for his difficult circumstances but then shared (as God had showed me) the invitation to connect with Charity on Wheels, our local homeless outreach partner to connect with God in community, build relationships with people who want to help, and get connected to resources that can get him off the street. As happens so many times he more or less ignored the invitation and essentially started sharing his story again allowing himself to fall into self-pity and anger and how he would get what he was owed. I offered the same invitation one more time but it wasn’t going anywhere and so we thanked him for complying and he went to pack up his car as we walked away.
My pastor friend thanked me for going with him and offering what I did. He shared that he has offered a similar invitation to get the help he needs but it is helpful when it comes from new voices. The pastor shared his desire to help but how so many times the people in bad situations that ask for help or complain about their difficulty aren’t willing to listen, lay down their own will, and take the necessary steps to get out of the difficulty. I have experienced a similar reluctance, whether from homeless brothers and sisters or others in trying circumstances, to humble themselves and take the next step God shows them towards freedom and restoration from their difficulty. When we are faced with difficult life circumstances, often times we don’t know what to do, while other times we feel justified in our anger and resentment and refuse to take the next step towards reconciliation and restoration. God promises to guide us. Often times we need the Body of Christ around us to help us discern that guidance. Many times we don’t get the full path but just the next step (which I’ve found is actually very good for us). But just like my new homeless from this past week, are we willing to wait on God until He shows us the way and when he shows us the way are we willing to follow it? We may not like it, we may not have chosen it ourselves but will we follow God’s guidance?
The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the Lord upholds his hand.
Psalm 37:23-24
As we walked, he explained that they have a homeless man and woman that attend their church and they let them park their car in the back of their parking lot at night but they aren’t allowed to be there during the pre-school hours as security is heightened for the children. Pre school had started and he was sleeping on the ground with all his belongings out on and around the car. We walked up and the other pastor addressed him and the homeless guy was personable but the pastor had to remind him that he couldn’t be on the property during school hours. He received that well enough and understood but as I met him for the first time he began telling me his story about how his family had cut him out of the inheritance, a story the other pastor has heard him share many times. As I listened to him share, I was asking God how I should respond and God showed me. After he finished I expressed sadness for his difficult circumstances but then shared (as God had showed me) the invitation to connect with Charity on Wheels, our local homeless outreach partner to connect with God in community, build relationships with people who want to help, and get connected to resources that can get him off the street. As happens so many times he more or less ignored the invitation and essentially started sharing his story again allowing himself to fall into self-pity and anger and how he would get what he was owed. I offered the same invitation one more time but it wasn’t going anywhere and so we thanked him for complying and he went to pack up his car as we walked away.
My pastor friend thanked me for going with him and offering what I did. He shared that he has offered a similar invitation to get the help he needs but it is helpful when it comes from new voices. The pastor shared his desire to help but how so many times the people in bad situations that ask for help or complain about their difficulty aren’t willing to listen, lay down their own will, and take the necessary steps to get out of the difficulty. I have experienced a similar reluctance, whether from homeless brothers and sisters or others in trying circumstances, to humble themselves and take the next step God shows them towards freedom and restoration from their difficulty. When we are faced with difficult life circumstances, often times we don’t know what to do, while other times we feel justified in our anger and resentment and refuse to take the next step towards reconciliation and restoration. God promises to guide us. Often times we need the Body of Christ around us to help us discern that guidance. Many times we don’t get the full path but just the next step (which I’ve found is actually very good for us). But just like my new homeless from this past week, are we willing to wait on God until He shows us the way and when he shows us the way are we willing to follow it? We may not like it, we may not have chosen it ourselves but will we follow God’s guidance?
The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the Lord upholds his hand.
Psalm 37:23-24
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