We are called to bear one another’s burdens and thus fulfill the law of Christ. We are called to be merciful, loving, tenderhearted, kind, patient, giving and forgiving. We are called to bind the wounds of others and care for them. My point is this, even in the midst of grave circumstances, how the body of Christ responds, changes the experience of those suffering and those who are extending mercy. I have never heard anyone say, ‘I wish I hadn’t been loving or merciful to that person in need.’ I have heard many individuals say, ‘I know I should have helped this person and I just didn’t do it and now I feel so regretful and guilty.’ This is not a case of imagined guilt, but real in the lives of most Christians as we review our sins of omission.

 

The book, The Purpose Driven Life, by Rick Warren says that the Bible offers three metaphors that teach us God’s view of life: Life on earth is a test; life on earth is a trust; and lifeon earth is a temporary assignment. The way we respond to others helps us to understand these three similes. At Covenant Care we see these metaphors played out in how couples handle infertility; how birth parents and their families cope with an unplanned pregnancy; how single parents deal with parenting; what follows for a young woman who chooses abortion over life; the ups and downs of the adoption process; how non-profit ministries survive; and then of course, how we respond as the body of Christ to all these crises that are sent our way!

 

A short time ago, I received a call at the office from a distraught young woman who was crying hysterically! Another staff member and I decided that we needed to make a visit to check on her since it was very difficult to understand what was going on or how we might help her. When we arrived her crying had not abated and it was difficult to understand what brought about her tears. In the course of our visit with her, we did find out that she had three children under the age of three years of age by different fathers. She had no money and no support system and was literally drowning under the weight she felt as a single parent. She kept repeating, ‘I don’t have anybody, nobody has ever really guided me or taught me what to do.’ Her tears literally soaked my blouse and her sobs did not cease. Our goal was to be merciful by giving her support, sharing hope through Christ, and pointing her in the right direction to receive appropriate counsel. This is the true message of mercy ministries! We do not yet know the end of this story because the storms of life are not as easily solved in real life as they are on TV.

 

The key to dealing with catastrophes of all different kinds is to understand it is our attitude and response that God is most interested in. There is so much in this life that we cannot control, but the key is that unless we rely on God’s wisdom in the choices we do have, we wreak further havoc in our lives.  All of us have experienced this at one time or another. It is a sobering thought to know we are at times our own worst enemy! That’s the internal battle we all face, but what about the external war that comes in helping people who usually began life as a victim and then have perpetually continued allowing their sin to flourish until they reach bottom and cry out for help. 

 

When I looked at this troubled young woman it might have been easy to begin to lecture her on premarital sex, or the value of an education or even the importance of cleanliness and order. We did none of those things as our natural inclination was overruled by the mercy of Christ in our own hearts. This is the heart of a mercy ministry like Covenant Care Services. We cannot fix all of life’s social disasters. What we can do is to respond in a way that pleases God.