Wanting To Help

Whenever a tragedy strikes, people everywhere want to know what they can do to help. That's awesome! At the same time, in many tragedies, it is not immediately apparent what might be helpful. This leaves a couple of options. The first option is to pray. Pray for those suffering as a result of the tragedy. Pray for healing. Pray the Lord will guide us and show us how we might be helpful. The second option is to patiently wait. Although it is not immediately apparent what might be helpful, it generally does not take long for avenues of support and aid to make themselves obvious.

Waiting is difficult. We want to be doing something. We want to be put to work. If someone is ready, willing, and able to help and there is a clear task, take the person up on the offer. Understand, however, that this is often not the case. Often the only thing to do is pray, wait, and pray.

Yet waiting remains difficult. It is hard to sit by and do (seemingly) nothing while people are suffering. It is not in our make-up to sit and wait because sitting and waiting leads to thinking and ruminating. Thinking and ruminating leads to questions and thoughts we are not quite ready to deal with. Keeping busy prevents these thoughts. Or should I say it delays these thoughts. Nothing will prevent them. They will come around. You will need to process them.

So when you have offered your services at the time of a tragedy and found there is nothing available for you to do, start by praying. Then, allow yourself to think and ponder and ask questions. Then pray some more that God would guide you through your thoughts.