I live in a wonderful neighborhood full of interesting people from many different backgrounds and walks of life. During the past 3-4 months of being stuck at home, we have endured the pandemic together. Most sunny afternoons will see a gathering of some, or all of us, sitting in our lawn chairs in a circle on the dead-end road while practicing social distancing.
Our conversations meander onto many topics, with COVID-19 being one of the major ones more recently. We often speak about missing our families or other activities we miss doing. One thing has struck me, however, is a seemingly greater willingness to be vulnerable.
One of my neighbors recently shared with me that he was having trouble sleeping and that he was so unmotivated to work in his garden. In fact, with discouragement in his voice, he told me he had let most of it go to weeds.
Now, I’m no doctor, but my neighbor seems to be suffering from a case of the blues, possibly even mild depression. It was so obvious to me that what he needed was mercy from the “Great Physician.” I so desperately wanted to pray with him but couldn’t find the courage to make that offer.
Mark tells of Jesus being criticized for who he hung around with, which provides the context for this verse. Do you feel the same desire to see “sick” people healed by helping them spend time with Jesus? Learn how to begin to speak with them about Jesus.
Oh God, fill me anew with a recognition that you have called me to bring hope to the hopeless. Give me the boldness to reach out to them and the courage to share what you have done in my life. Amen.
Go Deeper — Do you know someone who is a bit down right now? Will you pray for them, and then talk with them, and if the Holy Spirit guides you, tell them about Jesus’s influence in your life?
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