PRAY-RESTORE-REINSTATE

During a conversation with an elderly resident one day, she blurted out, “Ms Jones I’m scared of you.”  I was hurt and disturbed by her confession, so asked her what I had done to make her fear me.  She told me that I take care of business and she was doing something that she knew was wrong.  She was violating her lease agreement and that’s what caused her to fear me.

As she continued to talk, I silently uttered a prayer for her because I could see the fear in her eyes as she began to shed tears.  I did my best to assure her that she had no reason to fear me.  I then breathed a sigh of relief because I thought that I had committed some heinous act or spoken harshly and planted that seed of fear, but I had not.  It was my stand to uphold that which is right, which created the fear in her.

The following morning, the Lord reminded me of a conversation I had with a trusted friend years ago.  There was a time when she had distanced herself from me and would not return any of my phone calls.  I thought I had done something to hurt or offend her.  I was worried and tormented because I didn’t know what I had done wrong.

It took almost two years, but she contacted me. She confessed, just as the resident had and told me that I had done nothing wrong.  She was sinning and didn’t want to talk to me or be around me because the presence of God on me convicted her.   Her confession didn’t make me feel any better.  I was still hurt that she stayed away because we were so close and I wanted to be there for her and help her through whatever she was going through.

Are there people in your life that seem to be sidestepping, avoiding you, or making excuses not to be in your presence?  Got a few people not returning your phone calls?  Is it possible that it’s not because of anything you have done, but something they are doing?

Pray for the grace and mercy of God to overshadow that precious love one.  Don’t allow your emotions to dictate to you.  Don’t make it about YOU.

“Brethren, if any person is overtaken in misconduct or sin of any sort, you who are spiritual [who are responsive to and controlled by the Spirit] should set him right and restore and reinstate him, without any sense of superiority and with all gentleness, keeping an attentive eye on yourself, lest you should be tempted also.” Galatians 6:1 (AMP)