Idols....

It’s interesting to watch episode after episode of American Idol each season.  You watch these ‘nobodies’ slowly become ‘somebody’ simply because of how they are looked at by authorities in the business.  Week after week, we watch these ‘nobodies’ gaining confidence, bettering their looks, singing with more authority each time they take the stage. After several weeks of being judged by the music experts, the american audience becomes the judge. Millions of votes are being cast for these ‘nobodies’.  In break rooms all over the world, people are comparing notes about them.  Some of them are becoming household names, being discussed at the dinner tables of America.  Wow.  Whether they win or not, they become idols overnight.  They are forever changed because of a television show.  Some appear to handle it, others clearly do not.  Literally overnight, they become placed so high upon a pedestal that people will wait hours just to catch a glimpse of them, to hear them sing.  And what they wouldn’t give to actually meet them, to talk to them, to touch them. 

There are times in our lives that for one reason or another we are placed upon a pedestal in someone else’s eyes.  It feels good.  Everything looks pretty good from up there, doesn’t it? But the fact is, we shouldn’t be up there.  Whether it’s because we’ve come to someone’s aid, or we have taught a valuable lesson to someone at just the right time, or we’ve been used by God Himself to intervene in someone’s life, we shouldn’t be up there....ever.  God is the only one that should ever take that position in anyone’s life.

Perhaps you are that to a friend that is desperately hurting right now.  Continue helping her.  Continue being used in her life.  But get off that pedestal.  Take your position next to her.  Trust me, the fall from up there is painful.  It’s humiliating.  Point her eyes upward,  not toward you, but toward her Savior.  He’s the only one she needs to be looking up to.

Perhaps you are that one that is hurting.  You are clamouring for any thread of hope you can.  Is there one or maybe more in your life that you are holding way higher than they need to be? Do you hang on to every word they say? Do you immediately call them or text them when the clouds begin to loom?  Do you count on them to talk you off that cliff?  Do you need their touch to feel healing?  Do you find yourself relying on the fact that the Lord will use them to make you feel hope again instead of relying on Him alone to give you hope?

Hear me here, sister. I’m not saying that we shouldn’t be Christ in others’ lives....and that we shouldn’t allow others to be Christ in our lives when we are hurting.  But we must be careful on both sides of that equation. Before we know it, we can become someone else’s idol or allow someone dear to us to become our idol. God will absolutely use others in our lives to bring hope, to bring healing.  But, they cannot become the source of our hope and our healing. Perhaps you are thinking of one right now.  If you feel like you have become her source of hope and healing, for cryin’ out loud, don’t abandon her.  She needs you.  Talk to her.  Redirect her gaze toward Him. It may take a while.  Remember, you've been an incredible source of strength for her.  Do it slowly and do it gently, but do it.  He needs to be her Savior, not you.  Seek His wisdom in what your role is and be ok with stepping down a notch or two. 

If you are the one in need and you know there is one that you are holding too high, relying too heavily on, talk to them about it. Pray with them about it. It will be difficult. You’ve come to rely on them daily. They may not be so eager to give up their position, or they may be relieved to do so.  It may be a friend, it may be a sister, or it may even be your husband.  Turn your gaze upward and an incredible thing will happen.  You won’t have to give them up as a support system.....but He will begin to use them in ways He wants to use them in your life. The support will be anointed by Him.  Wow!  How I wish someone would’ve told me that when I was suffering. 

He means it when He says, “you shall have no other gods before Me”.  Yep, He means it.

Seasons

I've thought a lot about the seasons of life lately.  There are the seasons of beauty and growth that leaves you in a state of complete peace.  You know what I'm talking about, those times in your life when you say to yourself, 'ahhh...life is good',  just kinda leaves you sighing and you give thanks.  And then there are the seasons of storms.  Hmmm....brings about a completely different array of feelings, doesn't it?  One stormy season in our life can change everything.

I learned a few days ago that a high school friend committed suicide last week. His family is most likely right in the middle of the biggest storm they have ever faced. And the storms he was trying to endure? My heart breaks for him.

I just returned from a trip to Dallas to visit with my friend, Jan, Galen's wife.  You remember Galen from previous chapters in this blog.  I want so desperately to take away the dark clouds that still loom every single day from her storm that she experienced several months ago, but I can't.  All I can do is walk with her, pray for her, pray with her, and love her through her storm.

A few days ago, I received a call asking me to talk to a woman going through menopause that was suicidal.  I did have the privilege of talking to her and I felt as though I was looking into a mirror a year and a half ago.  The changes in her life, including a recent divorce, left her so vulnerable to the changes that was happening in her body as well.  She was severely depressed.  She told me she had not gotten out of bed for anything except to go to the restroom for several days. She told me that she felt like she was running off her friends and had come to the point of not calling them for the help she so desperately needed.  She was smack in the middle of a storm, a storm that was raging out of control.  Was there hope for her?  Absolutely!  But when you're standing right in the eye of the storm, it's so difficult to see what's on the other side of that storm.  All you can do is try to survive the now.

I don't know what season you are in right now, whether it's one of beauty and prosperity or one of storms and darkness, but here's the deal with seasons.... you have no control over them.  But you do have control over what you do with them.  If you are in the midst of a raging storm, get the help you need, whatever that looks like, but don't try to just 'wait it out'. It may get worse before it gets better. I know you are feeling very alone. You look up to seek His face and all you see is darkness. You look all around you and the storm is so heavy that you can't even see clear enough to take a step forward. You feel paralyzed with fear, confusion, and hopelessness. I would encourage you to take that step forward, not having any idea where it may lead. And as you begin to walk,  you will begin to feel the grasp on your hand that's been there the entire time. You're not alone, that is one thing I know for certain.  Perhaps you are on the other side of the storm and you made it through, but you feel so stinkin' beat up, you're not certain you'll ever be the same.  Then allow it to change you.  Allow it to make you more prepared for future storms of life.  Allow it to make you more sensitive to others as they go through their stormy season.  And allow it to bring you to the 'end of yourself' and face down before the Almighty God, in the full realization that He alone is your hope.  There IS hope, sweet friend.  The sun will shine again. I promise.