Rescuer

Have you ever felt like your best attempt to help somehow ricocheted right back and slapped you in the face?

Dry blades of grass pricked my soles as I wandered across the sunny yard.  Out of the corner of my eye, a fluttering on the ground caught my attention.  At my feet, a giant moth laboured to move through the grass.  His magnificent wings sat folded on his back, useless to lift his fat, sausage body off the ground.  Perhaps he had been blown there by the blustery wind and I imagined a rude awakening upon emerging from his sleepy cocoon.

Settling onto the cool sod I watched, fascinated, encouraging him with kind words as he fought to climb each blade and leaf as though it was a treacherous mountain frontier.  (I have been alone a lot these days.)

After several minutes of cheerleading on my knees, an inquisitive ant, although a fraction of the size, found my friend to be an interesting meal and started to pick on him.  Somehow, this didn’t seem right to me.  The moth and I had been forging a bond for some time now so I stepped up to protect God’s creature and kindly, gently coaxed him onto a stick, all the while explaining the rescue mission.  Once we reached the patio, I positioned my little buddy in the warm sunshine where his exquisite wings could dry and prepare for his first flight.

I imagined him soaring in the skies in all his splendor and thanking me, from the depths of his tiny moth heart for saving his life.

My heart swelling with pride for a deed well done, I turned and walked away.  Suddenly, a loud flapping filled the air.  In absolute horror, I turned just in time to see a hungry bird swoop in and snatch my plump juicy moth for his easy lunch.

Have you ever been convinced that you should help, only to face shock and confusion when things don’t turn out the way you planned?

Insects aside, it is difficult to watch people we love struggle. By nature, I’m a problem solver.  I often fly to rescue my people from their hard situations.  It’s just what I do.

But I’m reminded as I think back over my life, the line graph of mountains and valleys, it was during the lowest times, the most difficult trials, that I have learned the most.  Without pain, there is no growth.  It was in the darkest hours with nowhere else to turn that my relationship with God was forged solid. I learned to cling to my only hope.

Listen sister, maybe we’re not supposed to be the rescuer!  Let’s be the encourager.  Let’s be the revealer.  Let’s point strugglers to the true rescuer, Christ, the only one who offers hope.

♥ Tess

Psalm 34:17-18 (The Message) Is anyone crying for help? God is listening, ready to rescue you.  If your heart is broken, you’ll find God right there; if you’re kicked in the gut, he’ll help you catch your breath.

Romans 5:2b-5  And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.  Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;  perseverance, character; and character, hope.  And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.