Fruit of the Spirit - Week 6, Day 3

Day 3: Jesus is the Answer

The phone call came in just the other day. The voice on the other end was kind of shaky. It was a man's voice, and it was obvious to me that he had been crying. He said, "I'm going through a real tough time right now in my life, and I was wondering if you could help me. You see, my wife left me and said she's not coming back. She says she doesn't love me anymore or want me around. I don't understand why this is happening to me. I was wanting to know if you could pray for me and ask God to give me the strength to handle this. I'm going crazy." I took a deep breath and a big gulp and said, "Yea, I can pray for you." He butted back in before I could finish my sentence, "She also took my three kids. She's been living downtown for the past couple of months with a couple of men. I don't want my kids growing up in that kind of an environment. I talked to my lawyer about a custody battle for them, and he told me a battle like this would cost me between 2 and 3 thousand dollars. I don't have that kind of money. He also said the battle over my kids could last anywhere from 6-18 months. There is no way that I am emotionally strong enough to handle that kind of thing. I don't know what to do."

I didn't know what to say to the man as he cried on the phone. I tried to put myself in this man's position, and it scared me to think about it. "Sir," I said, "This might sound like a pat answer, but one thing I know to be true is this: JESUS UNDERSTANDS AND JESUS CARES." I began to tell this man about the love of Jesus. I told him all about God sending His Son to die for us. He sat and listened, and then I prayed with the man. He thanked me for my help, and then he hung up.

I sat there in my office and almost broke down and cried. I had to ask myself, "Todd, do you really believe that Jesus can handle any situation and help us to get through it? Do you really believe Jesus is the answer to this broken marriage?" How about you? Do you really believe that Jesus makes a difference?

I had to honestly answer that question once again in my office. Does Jesus make a difference? Is He really the answer? Is Jesus what this man really needs? My response: YES! Jesus is the answer. He is the one, the only one, that brings true peace. He is the only one that really does understand. He is the only one that can handle any problem or any mess. Yes, Jesus is the answer to this man's problems, to my problems, and to your problems. Do you really believe that? If you do, then stop worrying! Stop freaking out and panicking, and start resting in Jesus' care and strength. You have got a ton of problems today. Some of you have lost sleep this week because you've been up late worrying about your problems. Don't you think it's time you started believing what you say to be true? Put your life in the hands of God, a God that loves you and wants what is best for you, and stop worrying about all your problems because JESUS IS THE ANSWER.

Time Out:

1. What problems are you still holding onto? You can tell you're still holding onto them by how much time you spend worrying about them.

2. What does Matt 6:25-34 say about worrying?

3. What does Romans 8:28 tell us about God being in control?

4. Why don't you take a couple of minutes and thank God for His ability to handle any problem and any situation. You know, I really do believe that God can handle anything. It's good to be reminded of that from time to time.